Life Is Good to Stud After 'Courageous' BC Classic

Multiple grade 1 winner Life Is Good   didn't exit his racing career Nov. 6 as hoped, but the 4-year-old son of leading sire Into Mischief   still received a hero's welcome at WinStar Farm, where he'll start his stud career next year.

The colt co-owned by WinStar and China Horse Club led through the first six furlongs of the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland but could not hold off the challenge of undefeated heavy favorite Flightline , who won by 8 1/4 lengths in 2:00.05, the second-fastest 10-furlong time at Keeneland since 1991, according to Equibase.

Life Is Good came into the Breeders' Cup World Championships having already won four grade 1 stakes, including the 2021 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), in which he went gate-to-wire by 5 3/4 lengths. In his first start this year, he defeated 2021 Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Knicks Go   in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1). He would add wins in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Woodward Stakes (G1) to his résumé.

So when decision time came as to where to spot him in this year's Breeders' Cup, the connections chose to give him a chance in the World Championship's marquee event.

"The unique thing about Life Is Good is that we could have run him in one of three different races on the Breeders' Cup card," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "He could have been the favorite in the Sprint or the Dirt Mile, but he had already won the Dirt Mile and we felt he deserved a shot in the Classic and a chance at champion older horse and possibly Horse of the Year. We ran into a tough foe and he went strong and went fast. He gave us a huge effort. What I've heard from all his fans is that he went out courageously."

According to Equibase, before he finished fifth, Life Is Good laid down early fractions as impressive as Flightline's final time. His opening quarter of :22.55, half-mile in :45.47, and six furlongs in 1:09.62 were the fastest among 51 races at 10 furlongs run at Keeneland since 1991.

"It was an absolute throwdown for a mile," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager for WinStar. "To be in front for 80% of the race, it was a phenomenal effort. All credit to Flightline, who is a phenomenal horse. Life Is Good is a horse that has such raw speed and talent, we have no regrets about running in the Classic."

Life Is Good will enter stud at an advertised fee of $100,000.

Bred by Gary and Mary West, Life Is Good is out of the Distorted Humor daughter Beach Walk, who is out of the grade 1-placed stakes winner Bonnie Blue Flag . Half siblings to Bonnie Blue Flag include multiple grade 1 winner Diamondrella  and grade 3-placed stakes winner Highest Honors .

Walden said Life Is Good's conformation will make him suitable to a wide range of mares.

"When you have a stallion that is in the middle of the bell curve physically, they can get mares on either side," he said. "He is extremely well balanced with great proportions. He has a great neck and shoulder, with the length of body and hip and powerful through his gaskin. We have been very critical on (selecting) his mares, and the quality so far has been outstanding. He is going to make every foal better because of his balance."