Justify's Half Brother The Lieutenant to Stand in NY

The Lieutenant , a grade 3-winning half brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify , has been retired and will enter stud at Sequel Stallions New York next year at a fee of $6,500.

Bred by John Gunther in Kentucky out of the Ghostzapper  mare Stage Magic, the 5-year-old son of Street Sense  was raced by William Warren Jr. and his wife Suzanne. The Warrens acquired The Lieutenant for $185,000 at the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale out of the Shadybrook Farm consignment. Trainer Michael McCarthy signed the ticket at the sale and conditioned the colt.

"Before Justify became a Triple Crown champion I thought his older brother, The Lieutenant, could have been any kind," McCarthy said. "His looks, mechanics, and desire to train reminded me of some of the most talented horses I had ever been around, before an unfortunate injury after the Suburban ultimately curtailed his career. I'll miss watching him train in lock step with City of Light . (I) was sure he was geared up to make some noise in the fall schedule's biggest races. I have no doubt that his looks, heart, and strong female family will be a bonus to the New York breeders for years to come."

The Lieutenant is the first foal out of grade 3 stakes-placed winner Stage Magic, who is the most successful runner produced by grade 1-placed winner Magical Illusion (by Pulpit). Stage Magic has produced three winners from as many foals to race. She has a 2-year-old this year by Pioneerof the Nile  named Egyptian Storm that has not started yet and also has a yearling by Will Take Charge  that was a $1.75 million buy-back at this year's Keeneland Septemeber Yearling Sale. She produced a colt by Pioneerof the Nile this year.

Like his famous Scat Daddy half brother, The Lieutenant broke his maiden at 3. He would win half his starts at 4, and then broke into the graded stakes ranks at 5 when he won the All American Stakes (G3) at Golden Gate Fields. In July he placed second to multiple grade 1 winner Diversify in the Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, where he outran grade 1 winners Hoppertunity , Tapwrit , and Discreet Lover. The Lieutenant retires with a 4-2-1 record in 15 starts and $345,882 in earnings.

"Justify is a very special horse. When the opportunity presented itself to stand his brother in New York, I just couldn't pass it up," said Sequel Stallions' Becky Thomas. "Standing brothers of famous horses has served me very well. Giant's Causeway's brother Freud  has become the very cornerstone of the breeding program in New York.

"Not only is The Lieutenant a half brother to the future Horse of the Year, he beat a bunch of nice grade 1-winning horses on his own," Thomas continued. "He is by a horse I love, Street Sense, who is having a phenomenal year, and I believe has a very bright future. I am very happy to be able to offer this quality of bloodlines to our breeders."