Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm in Southern California has added Irish-bred group 3 winner Henry Adams to its stallion roster for next year, hoping to leverage the blend of dirt and turf influences in his pedigree.
Henry Adams is a 3-year-old son of Coolmore Stud's group 1 winner No Nay Never, a son of Scat Daddy. The colt was bred by Aidan and Anne Marie O'Brien's Whisperview Trading out of the Galileo mare Jigsaw, a full sister to 2018 Royal Lodge Stakes (G2) winner Mohawk.
"Irish bloodstock agent Hubie de Burgh is a friend and I told him a year ago I wanted an Irish stallion with dirt and turf in his pedigree," said Mike Scully, who owns Eclipse Thoroughbred Farm in the Santa Ynez Valley with his wife Angie. The farm is the former site of the Wygod family's River Edge Farm.
De Burgh sent word that a deal had fallen through on Henry Adams, so Scully jumped in.
"I think he is a good fit for California," Scully said. "No Nay Never ran on both dirt and turf, and he is by Scat Daddy, who excelled on dirt. Then you have Galileo on the dam side, who is a generational sire."
No Nay Never won his racing debut in 2013 at Keeneland when the Lexington track had an all-weather main track. He went on to win the Norfolk Stakes (G2) during Royal Ascot and the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville. Back in the United States, he ran second in the 2014 Swale Stakes (G2) on the dirt at Gulfstream Park and then won the Woodford Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. He ended his racing career with a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.
O'Brien trained Henry Adams for longtime partners Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor. He won his racing debut at Naas and followed with a win in the Tyros Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown. He was tried in group 1 company twice and finished fourth in both starts. The colt developed arthritis in a knee that shortened his racing career.
O'Brien said he was thrilled to see the colt heading Stateside for his new career.
"Having bred Henry Adams it gives me great joy that this colt gave his connections great days at group level. Big, wide, and strong in stature, this colt has the ability to produce everything needed for his progeny to excel on the American racetracks," he said.
Scully said de Burgh felt strongly about the colt's class, all-surface pedigree, and conformation.
"He was just stunning coming off the trailer, and he'll look even better when he gets a little weight on him. He's got a really nice way about him, a good mind," Scully added. "He's really a beautiful horse."
Eclipse Thoroughbreds also stands Nick Alexander's homebred and 2023 leading California sire Grazen. Another new addition to the roster will be Alexander's multiple graded-placed stakes winner Tough Sunday, a 12-year-old son of Grazen and a second-crop stallion, who has sired a couple of winners from a limited first crop all bred by Alexander.
The farm will not be standing Unusual Heatwave, who has been relocated to Wyoming, according to Scully.
