If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, why was Birdstone a long shot at the Kentucky Derby? After all, his daddy, Grindstone, won the Kentucky Derby in 1996 and his grandfather, Unbridled, won it in 1990. The post-Triple Crown racing careers of living Derby winners shows most of them left something to be desired on the track (perhaps that’s why there’s not much left for their offspring). Wins in major races were few and far between.
Status of living Kentucky Derby winners
Winning America’s most coveted race doesn’t ensure a successful stud career. As broodmares, neither 1980 winner Genuine Risk nor 1988’s Winning Colors have produced noteworthy horses. Three of the 13 stallions are concluding their careers in the outer orbit of the racing world: 1991 winner Strike The Gold and 1993 winner Sea Hero are in Turkey and 1987 winner Alysheba is in Saudi Arabia.
Genuine Risk
(1980)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
Retired
(Newstead Farm, Upperville, Va.)
Gato del Sol
(1982)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
Pensioned
(Stone Farm, Paris, Ky.)
Alysheba
(1987)
Notable later wins
Preakness, Travers, Breeder’s Cup Classic
Notable offspring
Desert Waves
STATUS
At stud
(Janadriyah Stud, Saudi Arabia)
Winning Colors
(1988)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
Broodmare
(Gainesway Farm, Lexington, Ky.)
Strike the Gold
(1991)
Notable later wins
Pimlico Special
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
At stud
(Izmit Pension Stud, Turkey)
Lil E Tee
(1992)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
Mula Gula
STATUS
At stud
(Old Frankfort Stud, Lexington, Ky.)
Sea Hero
(1993)
Notable later wins
Travers
Notable offspring
Hero’s Tribute
STATUS
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At stud
(Izmit Pension Stud, Turkey)
Go For Gin
(1994)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
Albert the Great
STATUS
At stud
(Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.)
Thunder Gulch
(1995)
Notable later wins
Belmont, Travers
Notable offspring
Spain
STATUS
At stud
(Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.)
Grindstone
(1996)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
Birdstone
STATUS
At stud
(Overbrook Farm, Lexington, Ky.)
Silver Charm
(1997)
Notable later wins
Preakness, Dubai World Cup
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
At stud
(Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, Ky.)
Real Quiet
(1998)
Notable later wins
Preakness, Pimlico Special
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
At stud
(Taylor Made Farm, Nicholasville, Ky.)
Charismatic
(1999)
Notable later wins
Preakness
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
At stud
(Shizunai Stallion Station, Japan)
Fusaichi Pegasus
(2000)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
None
STATUS
At stud
(Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.)
Monarchos
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(2001)
Notable later wins
None
Notable offspring
1st crop 2004
STATUS
At stud
(Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.)
War Emblem
(2002)
Notable later wins
Preakness
Notable offspring
No foals
STATUS
At stud
(Shadai Stallion Farm, Japan)
Funny Cide
(2003)
Notable later wins
Preakness
Notable offspring
N/A (gelding)
STATUS
Still racing