Grade 1 winner Halladay sired his first reported foal when a colt out of the Unusual Heat mare Katie's Heat was born on Jan. 17 at Checkmate Thoroughbreds in Parkfield, Calif.
Owned by Checkmate Thoroughbreds, Hector and Denise Cuevas, Raul Montenegro, and Javier Montenegro, Katie's Heat is a daughter of 2006 California Broodmare of the Year Miss Soft Sell, who produced Brother Derek (Benchmark), winner of the Hollywood Futurity (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1), and fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) en route to earnings of more than $1.6 million. Katie's Heat is also a half-sister to Don'tsellmeshort, a multiple stakes winner of $402,365; Sister Kate, multiple stakes winner of $282,186; and Swissle Stick, a stakes-placed earner of $129,964.
Halladay, a son of elite sire War Front , was campaigned by Harrell Ventures and trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. He was an impressive winner of the 2020 Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.
"Halladay is an incredible physical specimen by a sire of international leading sires," Adrian Gonzalez, owner of Checkmate Thoroughbreds and manager of Halladay Syndicate, said. "He's bred the best mares in California and his book is looking even stronger for 2023. It's exciting to see such a quality first foal and we're grinning ear-to-ear like it's Christmas morning with the promise of more gifts to come."
Halladay stands at Harris Farms for an advertised fee of $7,500. Shares are available.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
