Grade 1 winner Voodoo Song has been purchased privately by Turkish owner/breeder Alp S. Evcimen and will stand at his farm alongside other American expatriate stallions Toccet, Justenuffhumor, and Corthinian.
Evcimen said he was keen to get a son of English Channel that would have high potential for producing a Gazi Derby winner.
"Although Toccet has sired a multiple Turkish group 1 winner in his first generation (in Turkey), and Justenuffhumor several black-type winners, they are rather dirt/all-weather-oriented and Evcimen Stud was seeking a turf champion as well, suitable to Turkish racetracks and race programs," Evcimen said, noting that Turkish breeders have been particularly interested recently in acquiring mares by either English Channel or multiple leading North American turf sire Kitten's Joy. Evcimen bought three mares by Kitten's Joy among the eight mares he acquired at the recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The cross of English Channel with Kitten's Joy daughters has produced 20 foals of racing age so far that include 14 winners and four (25%) black-type winners that are all graded stakes winners.
Voodoo Song made all but four of his 26 starts on turf. He won or placed in four graded stakes, with his best performance producing a win in the 2018 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. Voodoo Song had an affinity for Saratoga, where he won four consecutive races in 2017 at 3 that included his first black-type win in the Saranac Stakes (G3T), in which he beat eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. The 6-year-old horse retired with an 8-4-1 record and earned $954,350.
"He was very successful on Saratoga's turf course, which is very similar to Turkish turf surfaces," said bloodstock agent Murat Sancal, who brokered the deal. "I am so fortune that we were able to get the deal done, and he will be heading to Turkey about mid-December. He will have good support from Turkish breeders, and we hope to get best results from his progeny."
Voodoo Song was offered at the Keeneland November sale through Hunter Valley Farm's consignment. The horse was bought back on a final bid of $95,000.
Barry and Sheryl Schwartz bred Voodoo Song in New York in the name of their Stonewall Farm out of their stakes winner Mystic Chant, a daughter of Unbridled's Song whom they bought as a yearling for $200,000 and won the Open Mind Stakes. As a broodmare, Mystic Chant has produced eight winners from nine to race, including stakes-placed Singapore Trader (by Flatter).
Mystic Chant is a half sister to multiple graded-placed stakes winner Mystic Soul, who is the dam of stakes winner Encryption, who placed in three graded stakes.
English Channel leads the North American turf sires standings with nearly $4.6 million in progeny earnings through Nov. 22. The Calumet Farm stallion has sired eight black-type winners this year, including five graded stakes winners led by four-time grade 1 winner Channel Maker. For his career, English Channel has sired 54 black-type winners, including 28 graded/group stakes winners, and six champions.
