Where Have All the Belmont Winners Gone?
Birdstone Is Current Reigning Stallion With Kentucky Derby Son
May 30, 2009
Diminutive Birdstone, who weighed less than the average 1,000 pounds for a Thoroughbred race horse, was a giant stopper in 2004 when he charged down the middle of the Belmont Stakes course and overtook Triple Crown-minded Smarty Jones.
Son of Birdstone Mine That Bird Gets Kentucky Roses
In 2009, a like-father-like-son-from-last-to-first charge brought fame to Birdstone's little gelding son Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby.
Today, Birdstone stands at Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, producing winners while still having the last laugh over the Smarty crowd. Smarty Jones has yet to rival Birdstone in numbers of stakes winners sired. Birdstone is one of six Triple Crown stoppers standing in America.
Where Belmont Triple Crown Stoppers Stand at Stud
- 2004 -- Birdstone -- standing at Gainesway Farm, Lexington, Kentucky
- 2002 -- Sarava -- CloverLeaf Farms II, Reddick, Florida
- 1999 -- Lemon Drop Kid -- Lane's End, Versilles, Kentucky
- 1998 -- Victory Gallop -- WinStar Farm, Versailles, Kentucky
- 1997 -- Touch Gold -- Adena Springs Kentucky, Versailles, Kentucky
Four other modern day TC spoilers are pensioned, or recently deceased:
- 1989 -- Easy Goer -- stood at Clairborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky; died 5-1-1994
- 1987 -- Bet Twice -- Muirfield East, Chesapeake City, Maryland; died 3-5-1999
- 1981 -- Summing -- Getaway Thoroughbred Farms, Romoland, California; pensioned
- 1979 -- Coastal -- Summerhill Stud, Mooi River, South Africa; pensioned
Other Belmont Stakes Winners at Stud
- 2007 -- Rags to Riches (filly) -- broodmare at Ashford Stud, Versailles, Kentucky
- 2006 -- Jazil -- Shadwell Stable, Lexington, Kentucky
- 2005 -- Afleet Alex -- Gainesway, Lexington, Kentucky
- 2003 -- Empire Maker -- Juddmonte Farms, Lexington, Kentucky
- 2001 -- Point Given -- Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, Kentucky
- 2000 -- Commendable -- South Korean Racing Association, South Korea
- 1996 -- Editor's Note -- Argentina
- 1995 -- Thunder Gulch -- Ashford Stud, Versailles, Kentucky
- 1993 -- Colonial Affair -- Haras El Praiso, Capitan Sarmiento, Argentina
- 1992 -- A.P. Indy -- Lane's End, Versailles, Kentucky
- 1991 -- Hansel -- Hidaka Stallion Station, Hokkaido, Japan
- 1986 -- Danzig Connection -- Allevamento Al-Ca Torre, Comiso, Italy
Belmont Stakes Winners Recently Deceased
- 1994 -- Tabasco Cat -- stood at JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station, Hokkaido, Japan; died 3-5-2004
- 1990 -- Go and Go (IRE) -- Waldorf Farm, North Chatham, New York; March, 2000
- 1988 -- Risen Star -- Walmac International, Lexington, Kentucky; 3-13-1998
- 1985 -- Creme Fraiche (gelding) -- Brushwood Farm, Malvern, Pennsylvania; 10-9-2003
- 1984 -- Swale -- died in accident 6-17-1984
- 1983 -- Caveat -- Northview Stallion Station, Chesapeake City, Maryland; 2-1-1995
- 1982 -- Conquistador Cielo -- Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky; 12-17-2002
- 1980 -- Temperence Hill -- Swang Jei Farm, Nontaburi, Thailand; 6-3-2003
- 1978 -- Affirmed -- Jonabell Farm, Lexington, Kentucky; 1-12-2001
- 1977 -- Seattle Slew -- Three Chimneys Farm, Midway, Kentucky; 5-7-2002
- 1976 -- Bold Forbes -- Stone Farm, Paris, Kentucky; 8-9-2000
- 1975 -- Avatar -- Frisch's Farm, Morrow, Ohio; 12-31-1992
- 1974 -- Little Current -- Pacific Equine Clinic, Monroe, Washington; 1-19-2003
- 1973 -- Secretariat -- Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky; 10-4-1989
- 1972 -- Riva Ridge -- Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky; 4-21-1985
- 1971 -- Pass Catcher -- Ocala Stud Farm, Ocala, Florida; died 1993
- 1970 -- High Echelon -- Franks Farm, Ocala, Florida; 5-15-1991
The last to spoil a Triple Crown victory party was Da' Tara in 2008. He crushed the Belmont field, winning wire to wire, while jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled up Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes victor Big Brown. Da' Tara is the first male line descendent of Man o' War since 1937's War Admiral to win a Triple Crown race. Currently, Da'Tara remains in training with Nick Zito's charges.
