Grade 1 Winner Girvin to Ocala Stud

Girvin , winner of the 2017 betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), will stand the 2019 breeding season at Ocala Stud in Ocala, Fla., it was announced Sept. 6.

Owners Brad and Misty Grady of Grand Oaks Farm have partnered with Kentucky-based Airdrie Stud in a deal structured by West Bloodstock to co-own Girvin through his stallion career.

"We've been big fans of Mr. Grady's horse for a long time and are hugely appreciative of the opportunity he's given us to partner on his stallion career," said Airdrie Stud owner Brereton Jones. "Girvin was a tremendously talented racehorse that was versatile enough to outsprint his rivals at 2 and stretch out to win the Louisiana Derby and Haskell at 3, and he's as gorgeous as he is gifted.

"Between the Grady family, the O'Farrell family, and Airdrie Stud, there will not be a better-supported horse standing in Florida this season. We wholeheartedly believe Girvin's going to reward us for it."

Girvin came out running for trainer Joe Sharp, winning his career debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in December of his 2-year-old year, covering six furlongs in 1:10.32. As a 3-year-old, Girvin scored the biggest victory of his career and solidified his place among the best of his crop with a game victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, defeating multiple graded stakes winners McCraken , Practical Joke , and Irish War Cry, along with subsequent Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway. 

He scored back-to-back stakes victories earlier that season, winning both the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2), and he went postward in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) as the top points earner on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Following a troubled 13th-place finish in the Derby, Girvin finished a close second in the Ohio Derby (G3) before capturing the Haskell. In his lone outing this year at 4, Girvin was runner-up to eventual Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1) winner Bee Jersey in the Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park. He retires with a record of four wins and three seconds from 10 starts and earnings of $1,624,392.

"Girvin is a handsome, grand-looking horse who was precocious and became one of the best and most accomplished 3-year-olds of his generation," said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. "We are excited about having the opportunity to stand Girvin, and to work with the Gradys and Airdrie Stud."

A son of Tale of Ekati , Girvin was bred in Kentucky by Bob Austin and John Witte out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon and is a half brother to 2015 Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Cocked and Loaded. He was a $130,000 purchase from Legacy Bloodstock's consignment to Fasig-Tipton's The October Sale in 2015.