Post by S u N f r O s T ~ on Sept 9, 2017 18:34:52 GMT -6
Impressario is also a Hall of Fame inductee. He is likely the best racehorse I have ever owned, the best horse I have ever bred, and likely the best sire I have ever owned as well. By Merry Bay King and out of Bank On Silver, two of the racing world's and breeding world's legends, it is unsurprising that Impressario followed in the hoofsteps of his parents in becoming a prodigious producer himself.
The minimum requirements for nomination into the BHoF are a minimum of six foals of racing age, four foals retired from the track, and at least three grade ones. Impressario's progeny exceed these expectations and as a sire he has already received a lot of recognition, being named Sire of the Year three times (Y13, Y14, Y15). Take a look at his progeny records and you will see why this stallion is deserving of a spot in the Breeding Hall of Fame. Here is a brief overview of his foals:
1. Born To Impress
Grade One, 9-12 DT, Known as a fantastic runner in the classics over both dirt and turf
Sampling of Significant Races Won: Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile, Kentucky Derby, The Handsome Mile, Sword Dancer Stakes, Continental Cup
This colt was highly rated over the dirt as a juvenile, rose to acclaim as a Triple Crown leg winner at three, and switched to the turf at four (over which he was also highly successful). His own career as a sire is just getting started and he has no foals of racing age yet.
2. Ventura
Grade One, 6-10 DT, Hall of Fame Inductee, Winner of 39 Races
Ventura grew up as one of the most fantastic horses on my roster, easily earning her way into the Hall of Fame upon retirement. As a yearling she won the GHF Next Top Racehorse Series. As a juvenile, her most significant wins came over the turf classic distances, though at three she matured into a different kind of horse, taking to the Triple Tiara with aplomb. Ventura hit all of the distances in her range at three, scoring a victory in the first leg of the Triple Tiara, then capturing the last leg of the Triple Sprinter Tiara, dipping into victory in the Wire Red Mile and then capping off the season with a Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint victory still talked about today. Despite her campaigning as a turfer at two and as a classic dirt filly at three, Ventura moved fully into the sprinting world at four and five. At four, Ventura contended against legendary stablemate Forbidden To Fly in the sprints and, after capturing the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint again, moved into the spotlight as a sprinting legend in her own right. She was nearly unstoppable as a five year old, winning in the sprints, stepping up to nine furlongs to take the Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, and concluding her season with a win in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Ventura proved that Impressario's foals were not only versatile in terms of surface, but winners in the sprints as well.
3. Italian Ice
Grade One, 9-12 DT, The Wire Champion Hall of Fame Inductee, Canadian Triple Crown Winner
Impressario foals are already known for their versatility, and Icee was perhaps the most flexible of them. As a juvenile, Icee ran mostly over the dirt and captured the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt, Wire Finish Cup Juvenile Dirt, and Follow The Hoofprints Dirt Classic. She then proved her affinity over the turf by winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to conclude her season. As a three year old, Icee focused mainly on the turf earlier in the year. She ran in Turf Triple Crown preps and even ran in the Belmont Turf Classic as a tester for the Canadian Triple Crown, which she then won. At four, Icee switched to the dirt, capturing the Wire Finish Cup Dirt, Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, and Breeders Cup Distaff. She is another example of her sire's ability to produce versatile runners.
4. Dare To Impress
Grade One, 9-12 T, Turf Triple Crown Near-Misser
Unlike her siblings, Dare To Impress specialized over the turf only, though of course showed the Impressario proclivity for the clasic distances. Raced lightly as a juvenile, Dare To Impress came back at three to win the Kentucky Open and Preakness Champion Stakes to miss in the Belmont Turf Classic. That didn't stop her from successfully completing her season with wins in the World Filly Cup and the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She led a successful season at four and though she failed to defend her Breeders Cup win retired with a solid reputation as a classic turf runner.
5. Impress The Moonlight
Grade One, 8-12 DT, Turf Triple Tiara Winner
Impress The Moonlight was another turf specializer among Impressario's foals. She excelled as a juvenile but really came into her own at three, becoming the site's first (and only) Turf Triple Tiara winner and continuing from that point to slaughter in the most prestigious three year old classic turf races, adding victories in the Rose Mile Cup, Universal Cup, World Filly Cup, The Wire Green Mile and Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf to her record. At four and five she has continued to be competitive, mainly running over the turf. Few horses could compare to her three year old season record.
6. Pandora
Grade One, 9-12 DT, Turf Triple Crown Winner
Bred to be the best, Pan was the Stable Sweetheart from the moment that she was born. Campaigned mainly over the turf, Pandora was prodigious for the entire of her career. She scored six HoTY wins as a juvenile and then tried out the dirt at three, winning a Triple Crown prep in the Wood Memorial Stakes before refocusing on the Turf Triple Crown, which she then captured (fulfilling SOPS's long-held dream of winning this series in the process). At four, Pan went to the dirt, trying out and winning a few HoTY races over that surface before the decision was made to switch her to the surface she loved best. She capped off her season with wins in the World Filly Cup, World Turf Cup, and Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Yet another example of her sire's versatile producing ability, Pandora is much loved at SOPS.
7. In My Remains
Juvenile, 8-12 DT
As a prospect, In My Remains gained a lot of renown, winning the Year Fifteen Best Bred Tournament Canadian Triple Crown division and being named the Best Prospect Colt for Year Sixteen. At two, In My Remains has been ghosting in the turf races and won last time out. With two wins under his belt and plenty of HoTY experience already, we're very excited to see where he goes.
8. Natural Defiance - Year Fifteen - o/of El Sol Del Mar (IRS) (UNRACED)
9. Impressive Call - Year Seventeen - o/of Siren Call (FR) (PROSPECT)
10. Influential - Year Seventeen - o/of Forgettaboutit (MA) (PROSPECT)
The minimum requirements for nomination into the BHoF are a minimum of six foals of racing age, four foals retired from the track, and at least three grade ones. Impressario's progeny exceed these expectations and as a sire he has already received a lot of recognition, being named Sire of the Year three times (Y13, Y14, Y15). Take a look at his progeny records and you will see why this stallion is deserving of a spot in the Breeding Hall of Fame. Here is a brief overview of his foals:
1. Born To Impress
Grade One, 9-12 DT, Known as a fantastic runner in the classics over both dirt and turf
Sampling of Significant Races Won: Unicorn Horn Dirt Mile, Kentucky Derby, The Handsome Mile, Sword Dancer Stakes, Continental Cup
This colt was highly rated over the dirt as a juvenile, rose to acclaim as a Triple Crown leg winner at three, and switched to the turf at four (over which he was also highly successful). His own career as a sire is just getting started and he has no foals of racing age yet.
2. Ventura
Grade One, 6-10 DT, Hall of Fame Inductee, Winner of 39 Races
Ventura grew up as one of the most fantastic horses on my roster, easily earning her way into the Hall of Fame upon retirement. As a yearling she won the GHF Next Top Racehorse Series. As a juvenile, her most significant wins came over the turf classic distances, though at three she matured into a different kind of horse, taking to the Triple Tiara with aplomb. Ventura hit all of the distances in her range at three, scoring a victory in the first leg of the Triple Tiara, then capturing the last leg of the Triple Sprinter Tiara, dipping into victory in the Wire Red Mile and then capping off the season with a Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint victory still talked about today. Despite her campaigning as a turfer at two and as a classic dirt filly at three, Ventura moved fully into the sprinting world at four and five. At four, Ventura contended against legendary stablemate Forbidden To Fly in the sprints and, after capturing the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint again, moved into the spotlight as a sprinting legend in her own right. She was nearly unstoppable as a five year old, winning in the sprints, stepping up to nine furlongs to take the Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, and concluding her season with a win in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Ventura proved that Impressario's foals were not only versatile in terms of surface, but winners in the sprints as well.
3. Italian Ice
Grade One, 9-12 DT, The Wire Champion Hall of Fame Inductee, Canadian Triple Crown Winner
Impressario foals are already known for their versatility, and Icee was perhaps the most flexible of them. As a juvenile, Icee ran mostly over the dirt and captured the Unicorn Horn Juvenile Dirt, Wire Finish Cup Juvenile Dirt, and Follow The Hoofprints Dirt Classic. She then proved her affinity over the turf by winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to conclude her season. As a three year old, Icee focused mainly on the turf earlier in the year. She ran in Turf Triple Crown preps and even ran in the Belmont Turf Classic as a tester for the Canadian Triple Crown, which she then won. At four, Icee switched to the dirt, capturing the Wire Finish Cup Dirt, Autumn Dawn Treader Cup, and Breeders Cup Distaff. She is another example of her sire's ability to produce versatile runners.
4. Dare To Impress
Grade One, 9-12 T, Turf Triple Crown Near-Misser
Unlike her siblings, Dare To Impress specialized over the turf only, though of course showed the Impressario proclivity for the clasic distances. Raced lightly as a juvenile, Dare To Impress came back at three to win the Kentucky Open and Preakness Champion Stakes to miss in the Belmont Turf Classic. That didn't stop her from successfully completing her season with wins in the World Filly Cup and the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She led a successful season at four and though she failed to defend her Breeders Cup win retired with a solid reputation as a classic turf runner.
5. Impress The Moonlight
Grade One, 8-12 DT, Turf Triple Tiara Winner
Impress The Moonlight was another turf specializer among Impressario's foals. She excelled as a juvenile but really came into her own at three, becoming the site's first (and only) Turf Triple Tiara winner and continuing from that point to slaughter in the most prestigious three year old classic turf races, adding victories in the Rose Mile Cup, Universal Cup, World Filly Cup, The Wire Green Mile and Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf to her record. At four and five she has continued to be competitive, mainly running over the turf. Few horses could compare to her three year old season record.
6. Pandora
Grade One, 9-12 DT, Turf Triple Crown Winner
Bred to be the best, Pan was the Stable Sweetheart from the moment that she was born. Campaigned mainly over the turf, Pandora was prodigious for the entire of her career. She scored six HoTY wins as a juvenile and then tried out the dirt at three, winning a Triple Crown prep in the Wood Memorial Stakes before refocusing on the Turf Triple Crown, which she then captured (fulfilling SOPS's long-held dream of winning this series in the process). At four, Pan went to the dirt, trying out and winning a few HoTY races over that surface before the decision was made to switch her to the surface she loved best. She capped off her season with wins in the World Filly Cup, World Turf Cup, and Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Yet another example of her sire's versatile producing ability, Pandora is much loved at SOPS.
7. In My Remains
Juvenile, 8-12 DT
As a prospect, In My Remains gained a lot of renown, winning the Year Fifteen Best Bred Tournament Canadian Triple Crown division and being named the Best Prospect Colt for Year Sixteen. At two, In My Remains has been ghosting in the turf races and won last time out. With two wins under his belt and plenty of HoTY experience already, we're very excited to see where he goes.
8. Natural Defiance - Year Fifteen - o/of El Sol Del Mar (IRS) (UNRACED)
9. Impressive Call - Year Seventeen - o/of Siren Call (FR) (PROSPECT)
10. Influential - Year Seventeen - o/of Forgettaboutit (MA) (PROSPECT)
