The pedigrees behind the colts of the Allegiant, LLC just keep getting hotter. When the quintet was selected by the Centennial Farms acquisition team, we knew they were outstanding physical specimens backed by exciting families. That excitement has only skyrocketed since the Keeneland September sale. Every sire involved in Allegiant with offspring of racing age has unleashed a new star since we brought the colts home.
Leading the way is Pioneerof the Nile’s son Classic Empire, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, presumed Eclipse Award winner for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, and likely early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Classic Empire, like our colt, is out of a mare from the Storm Cat line, a characteristic they both share with Pioneerof the Nile’s Triple Crown-winning son American Pharoah. Unlike the dams of either Classic Empire or American Pharoah, the dam of our colt is by Storm Cat himself, rather than a son, and hails from a star-studded family that includes a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner.
Freshman sire Union Rags was already responsible for one Grade 1 winner when we purchased a son of his out of Life Lesson. Not long after, he added a second Grade 1 to his resume in Alcibiades Stakes winner Dancing Rags. He is the only freshman sire to produce more than one winner at the highest level. In addition, he is the sire of G2 Remsen runner-up No Dozing, who experienced a wide trip in a race which has often proven to be a key stepping stone to bigger things.
Perhaps the two juvenile colts who have impressed the most post-Breeders’ Cup are Mastery (Candy Ride) and McCraken (Ghostzapper). Both are undefeated and generating serious Kentucky Derby discussion. Mastery, who sports Storm Cat on the bottom side just like our Candy Ride colt, was an easy winner of Del Mar’s G3 Bob Hope. McCraken drew off to victory in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on their popular “Stars of Tomorrow II,” card.
The fifth and last sire represented in the Allegiant, LLC is Kentucky Derby winner Orb. The multiple Grade 1 winner’s first crop is comprised of yearlings, but that hasn’t stopped him from enhancing his reputation as he awaits his first runners in 2017. With the major sales of 2016 wrapped, Orb stands as the leading first crop sire by average and median.
While their relatives continue to impress, the colts themselves are progressing nicely in their early training at our Middleburg, Virginia farm with Paula Parsons. Ownership interests are still available in the Allegiant, LLC. Please contact the office for more information or a hard copy brochure.
