Roadster to Enter Stud at Ocala Stud
Grade 1 winner Roadster, a 6-year-old son of Quality Road, will enter stud next year at Ocala Stud, the farm announced Sept. 20. "Roadster is all class, and he was an exciting colt on the racetrack," said Ocala Stud's David O'Farrell. "He was an extremely precocious juvenile, breaking his maiden in his debut and then placing in a grade 1 to eventual champion Game Winner in just his second start. The following year, Roadster proved he was a serious racehorse with a tremendous win in the grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, turning the tables on Game Winner. He competed against the best of his generation throughout his career, and we are excited to offer breeders the opportunity to breed to a top-class son of Quality Road who has the looks, pedigree, and performance to be a leading stallion." Arthur Hancock III's Stone Farm, which bred and raised Roadster, sold him for $525,000 at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale to Speedway Stables. The colt was sent to trainer Bob Baffert and made his racing debut at Del Mar, where he won first out by 4 1/4 lengths. Roadster was tested in grade 1 company in his next start when he finished third in the 2018 Del Mar Futurity (G1) behind Game Winner. Two races later, Roadster got his revenge in the 2019 Santa Anita Derby (G1) when he chased down Game Winner in deep stretch to prevail by half a length. Roadster started in the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) as one of the top points earners, but an eventful and extremely wide trip cost him the chance to be a contender. Racing from 2 to 6, Roadster picked up five additional placed finishes in black-type stakes. He was second in the 2019 Malibu Stakes (G1) to Omaha Beach, the 2020 San Carlos Stakes (G2), and in the 2019 Affirmed Stakes (G3) to grade 1 winner Mucho Gusto before being retired with a 3-4-2 record from 16 starts and $901,500 in earnings. Stone Farm bred Roadster out of the 2008 Oakley Stakes winner Ghost Dancing, who also is the dam of 2017 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1) winner Ascend and grade 3-placed winner Moro Tap, who set a mile-and-70-yard course record of 1:43.45 at Kentucky Downs. Ghost Dancing is full sibling to stakes-placed winner and stakes producer Hidden Ransom and a half sister to multiple graded-placed winner Diamond Spirit. The immediate family also produced grade 1 winners Dance Teacher, Cat Moves, and Hootenanny along with multiple graded stakes winner Gold Mover. Quality Road is the second-leading North American sire of 2022 by progeny earnings as of Sept. 20. The four-time grade 1-winning son of Elusive Quality also is the seventh-leading active sire by number of lifetime grade 1 winners sired with 14. This year the Lane's End stallion has been represented by Saudi Cup (G1) winner Emblem Road and New York Stakes (G1) winner Bleecker Street among his eight black-type winners. Quality Road has sired 60 stakes winners and four champions in his career.