Biondetti, Rivers Run Deep to Stand at Poplar Creek

Third-crop sire and group 1 winner Biondetti  and multiple Ohio champion sprinter Rivers Run Deep have been acquired by Poplar Creek Horse Center and will be standing at the Bethel, Ohio, farm for the upcoming breeding season.

Biondetti, an 11-year-old son of Bernardini , was Florida's leading freshman sire in 2016 and was runner-up on the Sunshine State's third-crop sire list last year with $1,234,329 in progeny earnings. 

Formerly standing at Woodford Thoroughbreds near Ocala, Fla., Biondetti had been entered in the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale as part of Woodford scaling down its stallion operation. Poplar Creek owner Robin Murphy immediately called Woodford when she saw the stallion was available.

"Physically he's amazing," Murphy said. "He has good bone and is very well-balanced. He has a strong female family, was a group 1 winner, and on top of that his babies are running well. He's the whole package."

Murphy made a deal with Woodford ahead of the sale and will stand him for $2,500.

Biondetti has sired 51 winners that have earned $2,593,308 through Jan. 10. His progeny have earned an average of $31,245 per starter and have shown winning form on both dirt and turf. His top performers include graded-placed winner Mr. Chocolate Chip, who was runner-up in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3), and black-type winner Bella Vincenza, who won the Added Elegance Stakes at Gulfstream Park and has earned $242,923 to date.

Bred by Palides Investments N.V. and raced by Godolphin, Biondetti is out of group 2 winner Lyphard's Delta, the dam of Delta Princess, who in turn produced multiple champion Royal Delta, grade 1 winner Crown Queen, and grade 1-placed, graded stakes winner Delta Prince. Lyphard's Delta also produced grade 1 winner Indy Five Hundred.

Murphy pursued Rivers Run Deep with has much zeal as Biondetti, knowing the nine-time black-type winning son of Ready's Image would be a perfect fit for the Ohio market, in particular because Ohio tracks is where he found most of his racing success.

"I have been watching the horse for three years and always thought he would be a good one to stand in Ohio because he's already done all my advertising for me," Murphy said. "He is very well respected in Ohio."

Bred by Nancy Lavrich and Walmac Farm, Ohio-bred Rivers Run Deep was acquired for $77,000 by Texas owner James Driver at the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-year-olds in Training Sale. The colt broke his maiden at first asking at Del Mar at 2 and then was shipped east where he started at nine different tracks through six racing seasons. He compiled a career record of 20-12-6 from 46 starts and earned $1,187,945.

Rivers Run Deep won both the Best of Ohio Sprint Stakes and the Honey Jay Stakes for three consecutive years in 2014-16. He was named Ohio's champion sprinter in 2016 and 2017. The stallion is out of the Prospector's Music mare Music Miss, who has produced four stakes performers besides Rivers Run Deep.

Biondetti and Rivers Run Deep will be available for inspection Jan. 19 during a Poplar Creek open house, 3400 Macedonia Road, Bethel, Ohio. The farm's 16 stallions will be shown from 1:30-4 p.m.