Bear Den the First Winner for Den's Legacy

Michael Biehler's homebred Bear Den became the first winner for Oklahoma-based stallion Den's Legacy  when he broke his maiden on debut Oct. 10 going six furlongs on the dirt at Remington Park. 

Ridden by Lori Biehler, Bear Den broke a touch slow and settled early in fourth to track the pace. Frontrunner Bold Image set fractions of :23.01 and :47.39 through the half-mile, maintaining only a head advantage over Stacey Moore and Yankee Indian along the backstretch. 

Bold Image was still in front as the field hit the top of the stretch but soon came under pressure from Bear Den, who saved ground off the turn. Angled out three wide, the gelding kicked home in midstretch and powered past a fading Bold Image. Bear Den held off a game Yankee Indian in the final strides and sailed across the wire two lengths clear in a final time of 1:13.11. 

Bear Den, who is also trained by Michael Biehler, earned $11,596 for his victory. 

Bear Den is out of the hard-knocking Macho Uno mare Machorina, who made 44 starts before retiring to the breeding shed in 2013. Bear Den is the mare's third foal. 

A son of Darley stallion Medaglia d'Oro , Den's Legacy was bred in Florida by Gaye Swartz out of the War Chant mare Sunshine Song. Consigned as a weanling to the 2010 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by Indian Creek, agent, he was purchased for $150,000 by John McKay. 

Racing from 2 to 6, Den's Legacy made 40 starts for owner Westrock Stables. Trained first by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, he won the Generous Stakes (G3T) at 2 and placed third that year in the CashCall Futurity (G1). Den's Legacy hit the board in six graded stakes at 3 for Baffert but did not visit the winner's circle again. He was transferred to the barn of Ron Moquett at 5 where he closed his career. He was retired in November 2016 with a 4-10-6 record and $693,684 in earnings. 

Den's Legacy joined the Mighty Acres stud roster in Oklahoma in 2017. He stood for a fee of $2,000 in 2020.