Spendthrift Acquires Jackie's Warrior Breeding Rights

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to undefeated multiple grade 1-winning juvenile Jackie's Warrior, who most recently won the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park by 5 1/2 lengths.

"Jackie's Warrior is proving to be one of the fastest 2-year-olds to come around in the last decade or more, and we are extremely excited to follow his racing career and witness the special things he can accomplish before he joins us at Spendthrift," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift's general manager. "For such an imposing colt, Jackie's Warrior is extraordinarily athletic and light on his feet. We could not be more impressed by the way he continues to run good fields off their feet and pour it on late when he lengthens that beautiful stride of his. A month after lowering the 28-year-old stakes record in the Hopeful, he comes back and runs a mile in (1:35.42) in the Champagne and did not look the least bit tired at the wire."

The son of Maclean's Music  is campaigned by Kirk and Judy Robison and trained by Steve Asmussen. The Robisons acquired the colt for $95,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. Jackie's Warrior won at first asking by 2 1/2 lengths June 19 at Churchill Downs. He went on to win the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) and then produced a record-setting performance in the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1), which he won gate-to-wire in 1:21.29.

Jackie's Warrior dominated the Oct. 10 Champagne, hitting the wire geared down. He earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, marking the fastest Champagne on that scale since Daredevil  in 2014.

"In this day and age, to win the Saratoga Special, Hopeful, and Champagne in the fashion in which he did it is truly remarkable," Asmussen said.

Jackie's Warrior has won his four starts by a combined 13 1/4 lengths, with an average margin of victory of more than 3 1/4 lengths, earning $402,564. He is the projected early favorite for the TVG Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) to be run Nov. 6 during the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.

"Judy and I are very grateful to campaign this exceptional colt, and Spendthrift will give Jackie's Warrior every chance to be a leading stallion when his racing career is over," Kirk Robison said. "Few do what he has done in four starts—four wins over three different tracks, three in graded stakes, two in historic grade 1 races, and recording a 100 Beyer speed figure in the Champagne Stakes. He is a lifetime horse and is just getting started. Steve Asmussen and his team have done an exceptional job in his development. We are excited to be part of his unlimited promise.

"Judy and I are pledging 2% of Jackie's Warrior's potential purse earnings from the Juvenile to New Vocations for their tremendous work in Thoroughbred aftercare."

Jackie's Warrior was bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables out of the 19-time-winning A.P. Five Hundred mare Unicorn Girl, a half sister to multiple stakes winner Bernie the Maestro (Bernstein), graded-placed winner Richard the Great (Distorted Humor ), and multiple stakes-placed winner Awesome Mass (Brethren ). The immediate family also has produced Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Honky Tonk Tune and sires Dr. Adagio and Comic Blush.