Modernist to Enter Stud at Darby Dan

Multiple graded stakes winner Modernist  , a son of perennial leading sire Uncle Mo   from a prolific female family, has been retired and will begin his new career as a stallion in 2022 at Darby Dan Farm in partnership with Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced Oct. 26. He will stand for $10,000.

"He is a tremendously good-looking horse with a mind to match and hails from a strong and accomplished female family," said Ryan Norton, stallion director at Darby Dan Farm.

A homebred for Martin and Pam Wygod and trained by Bill Mott, Modernist enjoyed his best season in 2020. In his first start of the year, he was a dominating four-length maiden special weight winner at Aqueduct Racetrack in January and followed that impressive wire-to-wire victory with a one-length score in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in his initial foray into stakes company. In his next start, he was solid third in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) after traveling four to five paths wide throughout.

"He won at 1 1/8 miles in New York and progressed really well in the early part of his 3-year-old year," Mott said about Modernist following the Risen Star victory. "He's become more mature and is professional about everything. He has plenty of stamina, as well as tactical speed. Disposition is so important in these kinds of races, and he has a lot of composure."

At 4, Modernist landed another graded stakes win in the Excelsior Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, where he beat Haikal  by 2 1/2 lengths, and was runner-up in the Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3) and Pimlico Special Match Series Stakes (G3). In the Pimlico Special, Modernist outran eventual grade 1 winner Max Player ; grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Enforceable ; and graded winners Harpers First Ride  and Fearless .

Modernist retired with 3-2-2 record from 11 starts and earned $576,300.

The colt hails from a prolific family. His dam, Symbolic Gesture, is a daughter of rapidly rising broodmare sire Bernardini and out of grade 1-placed stakes winner and 2009 Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life, making her a half sister to two grade 1 winners. Sweet Life (Kris S.) is the dam of Sweet Catomine , champion 2-year-old filly and winner of the 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Del Mar Debutante (G1), and Oak Leaf Stakes (G2). At 3, Sweet Catomine won the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3). Sweet Life also produced Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (G1) and Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (G1) winner Life Is Sweet and and grade 2-placed stakes winner Calimonco.

Sweet Life, also bred and raced by the Wygods, is a half sister to grade 1 winner Pirate's Revenge, grade 3-placed stakes winner Caribbean Pirate, and multiple stakes winner Echo of Yesterday.