Birdstone
Encyclopedia
Birdstone is an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known for winning the 2004 Belmont Stakes
and is gaining notoriety as a fantastic sire.
Owned and bred
by Marylou Whitney
of Whitney family
racing fame, Birdstone had won the Champagne Stakes, a leading race for two-year-olds, at Belmont Park
in 2003, but had not been a factor in the first two Triple Crown
races (finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby
and skipping the Preakness Stakes
) and was a 36-1 longshot when he upset the overwhelmingly favored Smarty Jones
, taking the lead in the final furlong
(201 m) in the fastest Belmont since the advent of modern electronic timing (2002 was the first year times were kept to hundredths).
His sire Grindstone
won the Kentucky Derby in 1996, and was a son of Unbridled
, who had done the same in 1990. Unbridled was in turn sired by Fappiano, a son of Mr. Prospector
, the tail-male ancestor of the vast majority of winners of Triple Crown races in recent years (22 out of the 24 races 1998-2005).
Birdstone's victory represented the first in the Belmont for trainer Nick Zito
, whose horses had finished second in that classic five times.
In the Winners Circle after the Belmont Stakes, his owners actually apologized to the connections of Smarty Jones for winning, as did jockey Edgar Prado.
According to the New York Times, the next major target for Birdstone was the Travers Stakes
, which he won despite being the fourth choice at 5-1. He was Zito's first Travers champion.
His retirement from racing after suffering a bone chip at the Breeders' Cup
was announced November 4, 2004. He is standing at stud at Gainesway Farm
in Lexington, Kentucky
.
His first starter was the colt Shoe Strap (Birdstone - Boot Strap by Storm Boot) who went to post first May 21, 2008 at Churchill Downs
and is trained by D. Wayne Lukas
. He sired Mine That Bird
, who had several wins as a two-year-old gelding before winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby
as a three-year-old and Summer Bird
, who went on to upset Mine That Bird in the 2009 Belmont Stakes
, his first crop also included Birdrun who set the Belmont track record at a mile and a sixteenth http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53074/track-mark-broken-at-belmont-another-equaled and repeated his sire's feat by winning the Travers also. Summer Bird then went on to capture the 2009 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
He was one of the top ten ranked freshman sires of 2008 with 11 winners out of 22 starters and stood for $10,000 for the remainder of the 2009 season, despite his first crop success. Birdstone has been booked for all of his 2010 stud career. His 2010 stud fee has been posted as $30,000. http://www.gainesway.com/horses/birdstone-196.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
best known for winning the 2004 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
and is gaining notoriety as a fantastic sire.
Owned and bred
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
by Marylou Whitney
Marylou Whitney
Marylou Whitney is a noted philanthropist and a prominent socialite...
of Whitney family
Whitney family
The Whitney family is an American family notable for their social prominence, wealth, business enterprises and philanthropy, founded by John Whitney who came from London, England to Watertown, Massachusetts in 1635.-Rise to prominence:...
racing fame, Birdstone had won the Champagne Stakes, a leading race for two-year-olds, at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
in 2003, but had not been a factor in the first two Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
races (finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and skipping the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
) and was a 36-1 longshot when he upset the overwhelmingly favored Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones is a thoroughbred race horse, and winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He finished second in the Belmont Stakes that took place on June 5th, 2004....
, taking the lead in the final furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
(201 m) in the fastest Belmont since the advent of modern electronic timing (2002 was the first year times were kept to hundredths).
His sire Grindstone
Grindstone (horse)
Grindstone is a thoroughbred racehorse who won the Kentucky Derby in 1996. He became jockey Jerry Bailey's 2nd Kentucky Derby winner and the second in a row for trainer D. Wayne Lukas....
won the Kentucky Derby in 1996, and was a son of Unbridled
Unbridled
Unbridled was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.The colt was sired by Fappiano , by Mr. Prospector, and his dam Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux. Unbridled retired with a career record of 8 wins, 6 places and 6 shows in 24 starts, and $4,489,475 in career earnings...
, who had done the same in 1990. Unbridled was in turn sired by Fappiano, a son of Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
, the tail-male ancestor of the vast majority of winners of Triple Crown races in recent years (22 out of the 24 races 1998-2005).
Birdstone's victory represented the first in the Belmont for trainer Nick Zito
Nick Zito
Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...
, whose horses had finished second in that classic five times.
In the Winners Circle after the Belmont Stakes, his owners actually apologized to the connections of Smarty Jones for winning, as did jockey Edgar Prado.
According to the New York Times, the next major target for Birdstone was the Travers Stakes
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers...
, which he won despite being the fourth choice at 5-1. He was Zito's first Travers champion.
His retirement from racing after suffering a bone chip at the Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
was announced November 4, 2004. He is standing at stud at Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms.The 1,500 acre property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
.
His first starter was the colt Shoe Strap (Birdstone - Boot Strap by Storm Boot) who went to post first May 21, 2008 at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
and is trained by D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...
. He sired Mine That Bird
Mine That Bird
Mine That Bird is a retired American racehorse. He is best known for being one of only nine geldings to win the Kentucky Derby, and the second gelding to win the race since 1929...
, who had several wins as a two-year-old gelding before winning the 2009 Kentucky Derby
2009 Kentucky Derby
The 2009 Kentucky Derby was the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby. The value of the race was $2,177,000 in stakes. The race was sponsored by Yum! Brands and hence officially was called Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands. The race took place on May 2, 2009, and was televised in the United...
as a three-year-old and Summer Bird
Summer Bird
Summer Bird is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse, son of 2004 Belmont Stakes winner Birdstone. He was bred by retired cardiologist Kalarikkal Jayaraman and his wife, retired pathologist Vilasini Jayaraman, at their Tiffany Farm near Ocala, Florida...
, who went on to upset Mine That Bird in the 2009 Belmont Stakes
2009 Belmont Stakes
The 2009 Belmont Stakes was the 141st running of the Belmont Stakes. The race took place on June 6, 2009, and was televised on ABC and ESPN360.com. The value of the race was $1,000,000 in stakes. Post time was 6:19 p.m. EST...
, his first crop also included Birdrun who set the Belmont track record at a mile and a sixteenth http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53074/track-mark-broken-at-belmont-another-equaled and repeated his sire's feat by winning the Travers also. Summer Bird then went on to capture the 2009 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
He was one of the top ten ranked freshman sires of 2008 with 11 winners out of 22 starters and stood for $10,000 for the remainder of the 2009 season, despite his first crop success. Birdstone has been booked for all of his 2010 stud career. His 2010 stud fee has been posted as $30,000. http://www.gainesway.com/horses/birdstone-196.html