Grade 1 Winner Free Drop Billy Retired to Spendthrift
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Free Drop Billy gallops at Belmont Park
Free Drop Billy , winner of the 2017 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, has been retired to stud at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
The son of Union Rags will be the newest stallion offered through Spendthrift's "Share The Upside" program in 2019.
"Free Drop Billy is a great-looking horse with a proven sire's pedigree, and he was a dominant grade 1 winner and leading 2-year-old of his crop," said Ned Toffey, general manager at Spendthrift. "He ticks a lot of significant boxes, especially for a stallion prospect in his spot in the market. We believe he's a terrific value that breeders are really going to like, and we're excited to stand him."
The Share The Upside fee for Free Drop Billy will be $10,000 for one year, however, breeders must also breed a mare in 2020 on a complimentary basis. After the breeder has a live foal in 2020, pays the stud fee, and breeds a mare back, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2021. For breeders not interested in the Share The Upside program, Free Drop Billy will be offered for $10,000 on a standard stands and nurses contract.
Campaigned by trainer Dale Romans for Albaugh Family Stables, Free Drop Billy broke his maiden at first asking at Churchill Downs in June 2017 before placing in the Sanford Stakes (G3) and Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course that summer. He scored a four-length win in the Breeders' Futurity prior to finishing ninth in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
Earlier this year, Free Drop Billy finished on the board in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), Holy Bull Stakes (G2), and Gotham Stakes (G3). The colt competed in but was unplaced in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).
Free Drop Billy retires with a 2-3-2 record from 11 starts and $662,470 in earnings. He is out of the Giant's Causeway mare Trensa and is a half brother to multiple group 1 winner and multi-millionaire Hawkbill.