Higher Power and Flavien Prat at the finish of the 2019 Pacific Classic at Del Mar
Higher Power, a Grade 1-winning millionaire by Medaglia d’Oro, will retire to Darby Dan Farm at the conclusion of his racing career and stand in partnership with Matt Bowling Bloodstock, the farm announced today.
The Hronis Racing colorbearer, trained by John Sadler, is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Keeneland. His 2021 fee will be $10,000 S&N for nominations done prior to the Breeders’ Cup.
A dominant 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar, Higher Power recorded a career-best 107 Beyer in the scintillating victory, running away from a contentious field that included three Grade 1 winners. A five-time winner of more than $1.5 million heading into this year’s Breeders’ Cup, Higher Power has been a gem of consistency competing strictly in top company since his Pacific Classic triumph with graded stakes placings in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, G1 Hollywood Gold Cup, G1 Awesome Again Stakes, and G2 San Diego Handicap.
“He is all class. He showed his talent and his impressive turn of foot in winning the Pacific Classic in the manner that he did,” said Ryan Norton, Darby Dan’s stallion director. “He descends from an outstanding Pin Oak family, has a stallion’s pedigree, and physically, he is a superb individual.”
While his greatest success has come at the Classic distance of 1 1/4 miles, Higher Power was precocious. He broke his maiden at two for trainer Donnie Von Hemel and owner-breeder Pin Oak Stable and won his 3-year-old debut at Oaklawn Park, defeating subsequent graded stakes winner New York Central.
Purchased by David Ingordo on behalf of Hronis Racing for $250,000 from the 2019 Keeneland April Sale Horses of Racing Age session, Higher Power on Sunday turned in his final major work before the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic, working seven furlongs in 1:25.40 at Keeneland.
By the elite sire Medaglia d’Oro, Higher Power was bred in Kentucky by Pin Oak Stud. He is out of the multiple stakes-winning Seattle Slew mare Alternate, who has also produced multiple graded stakes-winning Alternation, winner of the G2 Peter Pan Stakes and G2 Oaklawn Handicap, and sire of 2019 Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress. Alternate is also a half-sister to 1995 Canadian Horse of the Year and multiple Grade 1 winner Peaks and Valleys, from the female family of Grade 1 winner Mucho Gusto.
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