War Dancer returns to Rockridge Stud
[1]
War Dancer, New York’s leading turf sire, will return to Rockridge Stud in Hudson for the 2025 season. Photo courtesy Sugar Plum Farm.
War Dancer, New York’s leading turf sire since 2022 and atop that list again this year, will return to stand the 2025 season at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.
The 14-year-old son of War Front started his stud career at Rockridge in 2017. He stood there for two seasons before moving to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions prior to the 2019 season.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Rockridge in standing War Dancer, who has proven himself as a top turf sire,” said Robin Malatino, managing partner of War Dancer LLC. “With the introduction of Tapeta at Belmont, he can only improve on his already great stallion career.”
War Dancer leads the New York turf sire list by winners (21) and progeny earnings ($1,345,404) through Wednesday. Led by multiple 2024 winner and $204,500-earner Twenty Six Black, War Dancer also ranks fourth overall on New York’s general sire list with progeny earnings of $1,965,464. He’s also the sire of Grade 3 winner and $595,063-earner Dancing Buck and stakes winners Step Dancer, Mz Big Bucks and Warsaichi and Grade 3-placed $315,973-earner Surprise Boss.
“The War Dancer Team supports their stallion at every level and we are looking forward to contributing to War Dancer’s continued success,” said Rockridge’s Lere Visagie.
War Dancer and Rockridge also announced an exciting program that will provide breeders the opportunity to participate in War Dancer’s success. Limited share availability in the newly formed “War Dancer Legacy Club” is now being offered to select breeders. For more information, contact Belinda Thomas (802) 430-9959 or Erin Robinson (859) 421-7531.
War Dancer joins the Rockridge roster that also includes Americanrevolution, Disco Partner, Mind Control, Slumber and Tourist.
Endnotes:- [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/War-Dancer-action-shot.jpg
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/09/26/war-dancer-returns-to-rockridge-stud/
Moonage Daydream adds Hettinger to resume
[1]
Moonage Daydream fends off Whatlovelookslike to win Thursday’s John Hettinger at Aqueduct. NYRA Photo.
Another stretch out in distance produced another victory for Moonage Daydream Thursday at Aqueduct.
Chris Larsen’s homebred Candy Ride filly handled another stretch out in distance – from the 1 1/16 miles of the Yaddo Handicap last time to the 9 furlongs of the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes – and produced a second straight victory.
Under Flavien Prat, Moonage Daydream did all the work on the front end and fended off a late run from Whatlovelookslike to win by a head for trainer Jorge Abreu.
“Flavien said she was just galloping on the lead,” Abreu said. “Turning for home, when I saw her ears up, I knew she was going to be tough to go by.”
A 13-1 winner of the Yaddo last time out over Marvelous Maude and Whatlovelookslike – both of which came back for another try along with six other New York-bred fillies and mares – Moonage Daydream went to post for the Hettinger as the 9-2 co-fourth choice. Abreu hoped for a target for Moonage Daydream, who closed from second in the Yaddo, in the Hettinger but didn’t get it.
Moonage Daydream broke well and took over past the finish the first time ahead of stablemates Scoring Chance and Busy Morning. Moonage Daydream clicked off soft splits of :25.06, :51.58 and 1:16.58 while 8-5 favorite Silver Skillet idled toward the back of the back and Whatlovelookslike chased in fourth after a slight bobble at the start.
“It was not the gameplan to make the lead, but she jumped well, and we were all in the same boat where nobody really wanted to go,” Prat said. “It just felt natural for her to be there, and I thought she was happy there, so I left her alone.”
Moonage Daydream shrugged off her stablemates around the far turn and continued to lead turning for home as 7-2 second choice Whatlovelookslike cut into the advantage. Moonage Daydream led by a half-length in midstretch, passed the mile mark in 1:40.44 and withstood the runner-up in deep stretch.
“At the eighth-pole I didn’t know, but she was brave enough and found another gear to hold on,” Prat said.
The first two finished well clear of third-place finisher Can’t Fool Me, who was 4 1/4 lengths back in third in her stakes debut, with Silver Skillet fourth and 4-1 second choice Marvelous Maude fifth. Busy Morning, Snowy Evening, Scoring Chance and Power and Glory completed the field. Moonage Daydream won in 1:52.01 over the firm turf.
“When I saw that :51 (half) I took a big breather there,” Abreu said. “I said, ‘I hope they don’t go :49 or :48,’ because then you set up the race and (Whatlovelookslike) was coming at her. This filly is pretty hard to pass by when she takes the lead down the stretch. This is the third time she wins the same way.”
Moonage Daydream collected her third stakes victory, adding the Hettinger to the Yaddo August 25 at Saratoga and the 6-furlong Stewart Manor during her 2-year-old season at Aqueduct. She’s won five of 11, picked up $68,750 and boosted her bankroll to $370,660.
Abreu said Moonage Daydream would return for the $200,000 Ticonderoga at 1 1/16 miles on Empire Showcase Day October 27 at Belmont at the Big A before a break.
Bred by Larsen’s 3C Stable LLC and foaled at Hidden Lake Farm in Stillwater, Moonage Daydream is out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Elatha. She’s also the dam of the winning New York-bred Declaration of War mare Guardian Moon, a yearling colt by Speightstown and a weanling colt by Gun Runner, all bred by 3C Stable.
Endnotes:- [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MoonageDaydream-Hettinger.jpg
Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2024/09/26/moonage-daydream-adds-hettinger-to-resume/