Family'spet First Winner for Freshman Sire Eight Rings

Family'spet became the first winner for freshman sire Eight Rings in capturing a maiden special weight race at Wyoming Downs by 3 3/4 lengths. The 2-year-old colt led throughout under Carmen Vazquez. Dayson LaVanway trains Family'spet for owner Sergio Pintado. The colt scored at second asking after a debut 10th-place finish at Wyoming Downs last month. Bred in California by Checkmate Thoroughbreds out of the Arrogate mare Sage Hill, he earned $5,720 to increase his career earnings to $6,136. Eight Rings, a son of Empire Maker, currently stands at Rancho San Miguel in California. His stud fee was $6,000 for the 2026 breeding season. Sold to a partnership for $520,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, he emerged as one of the leading 2-year-olds of 2019 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert when he took his debut by 6 1/4 lengths at Del Mar and added the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park two starts later. He returned to the winner's circle at Santa Anita in taking an allowance optional claiming race two years later as a 4-year-old. He also placed in the 2021 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1). He would show in three other stakes at ages 4 and 5, and concluded his career with a 3-1-3 record from 14 lifetime starts and earnings of $474,451. WinStar Farm bred Eight Rings in Kentucky out of the graded stakes-winning Pure Prize mare Purely Hot, who has since produced Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner British Isles.