Nearly twelve years to the day that Centennial Farms signed the Keeneland September ticket for a colt named Moyne Spun, he’s rejoining the family. Wicked Strong has been pensioned from stud duty and arrived in Ipswich, Massachusetts. The new gelding is now at the home of Centennial Farms’ President Don Little, Jr. and the Little family.
Always highly regarded as a youngster, the son of Hard Spun’s larger story began to unfold in the spring of his two-year-old season. In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing, he was renamed in honor of Centennial’s hometown and its residents. More meaningfully, a pledge was made to donate a percentage of his earnings to the One Fund, a charity set up to assist those who had been affected by the tragedy. That partnership, coupled with the ride Wicked Strong took everyone on, proved to be one of the most rewarding experiences anyone at Centennial has been involved in.
After undergoing his early training with Paula Parsons and her team in Middleburg, Wicked Strong joined trainer Jimmy Jerkens at Belmont Park on June 5, 2013. Wicked Strong broke his maiden impressively in his second career start and wrapped up his three-race two-year-old campaign with a third-place effort in the G2 Remsen.
An unlucky start to his sophomore year in Florida left him ready for a breakout performance in his return to New York and he delivered. Wicked Strong pulled clear to a 3 1/2-length victory in the G1 Wood Memorial to stamp his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. He put forth a remarkable performance at Churchill Downs, finishing fourth despite traffic troubles after stumbling out of post twenty, and followed that up by dead-heating for fourth, with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome, in the Belmont Stakes. A tremendous summer at Saratoga followed – he turned the tables on Belmont winner Tonalist with a 2 1/4-length victory in the G2 Jim Dandy and was just nailed on the wire by stablemate V. E. Day in the G1 Travers. His season ended on a scary note when impeded with in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Regular rider Rajiv Maragh suffered a broken arm and while “Wicked” was miraculously unscathed, the decision was made to stop on him for the year. He returned to Middleburg, where the shoes he was wearing that day still hang on the barn wall.
Despite going winless as a four-year-old, Wicked Strong’s toughness, consistency, and talent were on display throughout the year. He added a stakes-placing on turf to his resume and his additional graded stakes placings included both the G1 Whitney and G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He retired sound, thanks to the efforts of trainer Jimmy Jerkens, racing manager Dr. Stephen Carr, and more, after the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, with another strong effort and career earnings north of $1.9 million.
Throughout it all, Wicked Strong’s popularity remained steadfast. He was embraced by the Boston community, earning headlines and a sizable cheering section at Suffolk Downs for simulcasting. Over $34,000 was raised via his on-track exploits alone for the One Fund and his success undoubtedly helped generate more. He is unquestionably one of the most popular horses to carry Centennial’s famed red and tan colors in the organization’s 42-year history.
Wicked Strong retired to Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in the fall of 2015, where he remained for five years before relocating to Dr. William Solomon’s Pin Oak Lane Farm in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. At stud, he was represented by champion Wicked Runner, G2 winners Brooklyn Strong and Wicked Crane, multiple graded stakes placed Jilted Bride, and more. Over the summer, the decision was made to pension Wicked Strong, who was gelded and returned to Spendthrift Farm. While other options were on the table for his future, nothing felt as right as bringing him to Massachusetts.
“We couldn’t be happier to bring Wicked Strong home,” said Don Little, Jr. “He provided us with some of the greatest memories of our lives and we can’t wait to spend the rest of his life spoiling him and thanking him… and maybe hopping aboard! Our thanks to everyone at Spendthrift Farm and Pin Oak Lane Farm for prioritizing his well-being over the years and for coordinating with us to give us this opportunity.”
Spendthrift Farm’s General Manager, Ned Toffey, is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he also played football. “Ned’s ties to Massachusetts always made it feel particularly appropriate to have Wicked at Spendthrift and he was instrumental in this process,” added Little.
Wicked Strong joins fellow former Centennial runners and stakes winners Mihos and Securitiz in the barn overseen by Holly Little, filling a stall formerly occupied by multiple graded stakes placed Convocation, lost earlier this summer to laminitis. Convocation enjoyed eleven wonderful years of retirement.
“Convocation was a true character who we miss dearly. While he will never be replaced, it’s hard not to see a bit of fate in the timing of everything. Caring for the ‘Ipswich Gang,’ has been my sweat, dedication, and commitment year-round and I’m thrilled to welcome Wicked to the group,” said Holly Little.
Wicked Strong will be allowed to settle in to his new home before any decisions will be made regarding hosting visitors.
Centennial Farms, owned by Don Little, Jr., Peter Horvitz, and Margaret O’Meara, are fervent advocates for responsible aftercare, an ethos shared by the partners involved with each horse. Each partnership is set-up with funding for a separate, interest-bearing aftercare account strictly for the use of any Centennial horse past or present who may need assistance or as a donation to a Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited organization. Centennial Farms is a longtime proud sponsor of the TAA’s Best Turned Out Horse Awards on Gulfstream Park’s Pegasus World Cup Day and a regular supporter of a number of TAA-accredited organizations, including Old Friends, Racing For Home, ReRun, Second Stride, Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, and Turning For Home.
