Thu, 09/12/2024 - 13:12

Blazing Sevens to stand at Darby Dan upon retirement

Barbara D. Livingston
Grade 1 winner Blazing Sevens will stand at Darby Dan Farm once his racing career is over.

Blazing Sevens, a hot commodity as a son of breakout young classic sire Good Magic, will stand at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., in 2025, the farm announced Thursday.

A stud fee for the 4-year-old Blazing Sevens, who most recently raced in July and most recently breezed on Sept. 7, will be announced at the conclusion of his career. Peter Bradley, bloodstock adviser for owner Rodeo Creek Racing, brokered the deal to stand the colt at Darby Dan, and he will be syndicated in the near future.

Blazing Sevens won two of four starts as a juvenile, with his signature victory coming in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. He also crossed the line third in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes. The colt went winless in four starts in 2023, but was a hard-fought second in the Preakness Stakes, beaten just a head by National Treasure, with Kentucky Derby winner Mage in third. He was also third in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.

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This year, Blazing Sevens has an allowance/optional-claiming victory from three outings.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of a precocious Grade 1 son of Good Magic to our roster,” Stuart Fitzgibbon, stallion director at Darby Dan Farm, said in a release. “Blazing Sevens was a true standout in his 2- and 3-year-old racing seasons. Coupled with his exceptional conformation and pedigree, Blazing Sevens is a highly desirable stallion.”

Good Magic, by champion, leading sire, and emerging sire of sires Curlin, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and was an Eclipse Award champion. The following year, he was a multiple Grade 1 winner, and was second to Triple Crown winner Justify in the Kentucky Derby. Good Magic, who stands alongside Curlin at Hill ‘n’ Dale, has sired classic winners in each of his first two crops, with 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage followed by this year’s Belmont Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner Dornoch.

Mage entered stud this year at Airdrie Stud, while Dornoch’s stallion rights have been acquired by Spendthrift Farm; he is expected to stand in 2025. With Blazing Sevens now off the market, there are two other Grade 1-winning sons of Good Magic in training whose future plans have not been announced as of yet – Muth and Mixto.

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