Bellamy Road’s success continues

By Elaine Belval

The 2011 group of second-crop sires seems to be absolutely top class. War Front, Bernardini, Congrats, and Flower Alley (sire of G1 Ashland S. at Keeneland) are all off to outstanding starts. Perhaps the most surprising is Bellamy Road. Earlier this year, his son Toby’s Corner defeated 2010 two-year-old champion Uncle Mo in the G1 Wood Memorial S.

This past weekend, Georgie’s Angel became his first SW from his second crop (and his seventh overall) when she won the G3 Schuylerville S. at Saratoga. Bred by Scott E. and Carol M. Ricker, owned by Sheffer Racing Stable, Ronald Stocks and Betsy Wells, and trained by Todd Pletcher, the filly won a maiden race at Churchill Downs earlier in July.

Bellamy Road’s sire is the leading Florida-based Danzig-line sire Concerto. Concerto is a long-time resident of Ocala Stud Farm and has done nothing wrong in a long career, except make a big name for himself outside of Florida. But, an argument could be made that he is the best son of champion Chief’s Crown at stud.

Bellamy Road’s female family traces to a very good Phipps family—that of Ten Cents a Dance (family of G1 winner Versailles Treaty, etc.).

Bellamy Road was sold to George Steinbrenner for $87,000 at the 2004 OBS April sale (well above Concerto’s two-year-old average of $29,000). He won a maiden race at Delaware and the G3 Cradle S. at two. At three, however, he stunned everyone with a massive romp in the G1 Wood Memorial, which led to favoritism in the G1 Kentucky Derby. He ran unplaced in the Derby but did return to finish second in the G1 Travers S. to Flower Alley.

Bellamy Road retired to stud Ben P. Walden’s Hurricane Hall. He was later moved to Walden’s new farm, Pauls Mill in Versailles. Bellamy Road was well-priced at $10,000 and proved very popular with 90 named foals in that first crop. When his first crop raced, he had two SWs by the end of August, including Position Limit in the prestigious G2 Adirondack S. at Saratoga.

Bellamy Road now  has 34 winners from that first crop, seven SWs and four GSWs (two at the prestigious Saratoga meet). I saw Bellamy Road in October of 2010. He is a very imposing individual. And Pauls Mill is a beautiful farm (if a little bit off the beaten path).  It may be that 2011 will see the resurgence of the Danzig-line in the United States with such others as War Front, Pomeroy, and Hard Spun—off to a quick start with his two-year-olds.

Bellamy Road stands at Pauls Mill and his 2011 fee was $10,000.

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Philanthropist tops of Canadian second-crop sires

By Elaine Belval

Bear It’s Time won the Bison City S. at Woodbine last weekend for owner Bear Stables, breeder Gardiner Farms and trainer Reade Baker. The Bison City is the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, and it was an impressive third victory for Bear It’s Time following a maiden score and a victory in the Lady Angela S. before running into the super filly Inglorious in the Canadian Oaks (first leg of the Triple Tiara).

That same day at Woodbine, Phil’s Dream won a maiden race. Even more impressive, sons Hippolytus and Pender Harbour finished second and third, respectively, behind Inglorious in the Queen’s Plate. And this is only Philanthropist’s first crop of three-year-olds.

Philanthropist was part of the famous Phipps dynasty, bred by Ogden Mills Phipps. He is by leading sire Kris S. and out of the graded stakes-placed Mr. Prospector mare Hidden Reserve. He is a half-brother to the GSW Defer. His fourth dam is the elite mare Grey Flight— this the family of What a Pleasure, Sovereign Dancer, and Time for a Change. Philanthropist was unraced at two, but at three won a maiden at Belmont and an allowance at Saratoga. At four, he won the G3 Queens County H. He retired with six wins and about $266,430 in earnings.

The Kris S. line in general is later-maturing, and it was expected that the offspring of Philanthropist would be better at three than two. His first crop of two-year-olds did show quality and promise as he had the SW Medabuck, winner of the Victorian Queen S. at Woodbine, and the stakes-placed Wonder Phil, third in the Vandal S. at Woodbine.

Philanthropist has 35 foals in his first crop, and he now has three SWs, including three offspring capable of competing at the top levels in Canada. He has 30 named foals in his second-crop and will have approximately 30 in his third. With the success of his first crop, Philanthropist will soon be one of the most popular stallions in Canada.

Philanthropist stands at Gardiner Farms in Ontario Canada and his 2011 fee was $5,000 (Canadian).

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Dansili in Australia

Juddmonte’s UK-based Dansili has never shuttled to Australia but he’s represented by several runners there conceived on SH time. His first winner is the filly Soft Sand. The following is a conversation with Danny Power of @thethoroughbred.

Click here to read this story about Dansili, which was collected and written for Twitter by Sid Fernando.

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