Jonathan's Way, whose promise last year as a juvenile included a debut win at Saratoga Race Course before a 2 3/4-length victory over Owen Almighty in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, has been retired from racing and will enter stud next year at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky.
Jonathan Way—a son of Vekoma , who topped the first-crop sire standings in 2024—concludes his racing career with a 2-1-0 record in four starts with earnings of $268,530 for owner Rigney Racing. After his initial two victories, he finished seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs to conclude his juvenile season.
The dark bay or brown colt never raced this year at 3 after being scratched from the Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in February due to what trainer Phil Bauer said was an unsatisfactory blood count. His infection was treated, but the colt developed life-threatening colitis that set him back for several months and contributed to further complications that ultimately led to the decision to retire him.
"As a racehorse, Jonathan's Way was a very special talent that, honestly, exceeded the ability of the best horses I have ever been around," trainer Phil Bauer said in a release from Airdrie Stud. "He is an absolutely beautifully made horse, and he translated that beauty to the way he moved on the track. He was poetry in motion. He was also the gold standard of class every day in the barn, and as he battled through his illness. I don't believe we got to see the best of Jonathan's Way, but I do believe he has a great chance to show everyone how special he was through his stallion career."
A $290,000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock weanling purchase in 2022 by agent John Moynihan, Johnathan's Way was bred by Susan Anderson Racing in Ohio out of the stakes-winning Indian Charlie mare Female Drama. Jonathan's Way is a half-brother to Startfromthebottom (Kantharos ), a multiple stakes-placed runner in Ohio.
"In our opinion, there is no ceiling on Johnathan's Way's potential at stud," Airdrie's Bret Jones said. "Everyone who has spent time with this horse reveres him and anyone who has watched his races has to recognize his immense talent. Because of bad luck, he never had a chance to showcase that talent as a 3-year-old, but that fits the description of some of the most important stallions to stand at stud; from Not This Time and Dark Angel today on back to Hail to Reason and Raise a Native."
Jones added that Airdrie gave their commitment to Richard Rigney of Rigney Racing to give Jonathan's Way "the support he deserves with our broodmare band, and we can't wait to get started in honoring that commitment."
"Jonathan's Way has been very special to our family and our racing team," Rigney added. "We really believed we had a Derby horse, but it just wasn't meant to be. We are equal partners with Airdrie and we are so happy to partner with a team that believes in him as much as we do. We will both be supporting him strongly, and I really believe he will repay our faith for many years to come."
Jonathan's way is available for inspection at Airdrie throughout the Keeneland September Sale. His stud fee will be announced, along with the entirety of the Airdrie roster, after the sale.
