Spendthrift Acquires Rights to Wicked Strong

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to grade I-winning millionaire Wicked Strong  , who will be retired at season's end to stand stud at Spendthrift in 2016. The 4-year-old son of Hard Spun   will be part of the farm's "Share The Upside" program.



"Wicked Strong is a grade I winner by one of Danzig's best sons at stud, and you would be hard-pressed to find a better physical from the Danzig line," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. "He's an exceptional-looking horse and full of class and quality. We believe he'll be extremely popular with breeders, especially through our 'Share The Upside' program, and we're excited about his chances in the Breeders' Cup."



Wicked Strong, who is set to make his next start in the Oct. 30 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) at Keeneland, will stand for $10,000 on the "Share The Upside" program, and will require breeders to breed a mare in 2016 and 2017 and have two live foals on a stands-and-nurses basis to earn a lifetime breeding right starting in 2018 and lasting throughout his stallion career.



Wicked Strong's one-time stud fee is also $10,000 on a standard stands-and-nurses contract for people who do not wish to participate in the "Share The Upside" program. Commitments to Wicked Strong are being honored prior to the Breeders' Cup, and his stud fees are subject to change pending race results through the rest of the year.



Wicked Strong has been among the best of his crop at 2, 3, and 4. Trained by James Jerkens, the bay colt broke his maiden in his second start as a 2-year-old at one mile at Belmont before stretching out around two turns a month later to finish a close third in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II). He was beaten a half-length by Honor Code and Cairo Prince  .



At 3, Wicked Strong won the Twinspires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) by 3 1/2 lengths, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.31—the fastest final time in the Wood since Bellamy Road   in 2005. Wicked Strong earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.



Wicked Strong had a tough trip in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), stumbling at the break and the overcoming traffic to finish fourth behind California Chrome. He returned to New York for the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and had to overcome a wide trip to dead-heat with California Chrome for fourth, beaten just 1 3/4 lengths. Wicked Strong went on to enjoy a strong summer at Saratoga, winning the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) over Tonalist before getting beat a nose by stablemate V. E. Day in the grade I Travers Stakes.



This year Wicked Strong has placed in several top stakes, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) and Woodward Stakes (gr. I). He has earned $1,934,460 off a 3-4-3 slate from 18 starts.



Out of the Charismatic mare Moyne Abbey, Wicked Strong is owned by Centennial Farms, which purchased the colt for $375,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September. He was bred in Kentucky by William F. Lynn.