Tiznow‘s Grade 1-winning juvenile Sporting Chance will enter stud in 2020 at Fred and Linda Alexander’s A & A Ranch in Anthony, N.M.
Believed to be the first Grade 1 winner to enter stud in New Mexico in nearly 40 years, a group of local breeders have joined Alexander in the purchase from Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack. Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Sporting Chance was a $575,000 Keeneland September yearling in 2016, consigned by Woods Edge Farm, agent.
Second in his racing debut at Churchill Downs, Sporting Chance moved to Saratoga to take a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight by 2 1/4 lengths over eventual multiple graded-placed Givemeaminit, winner of $428,580.
Stepping up to Grade 1 competition in just his third start, Sporting Chance prompted the pace set by eventual Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes winner National Flag. Sporting Chance shook clear of National Flag at the head of the lane and opened up on the field, with Free Drop Billy pursuing on the outside through six furlongs in 1:10.30. Sporting Chance and Free Drop Billy finished a neck apart with Givemeaminit third.
In his 3-year-old debut Sporting Chance ran third in My Boy Jack’s G3 Southwest Stakes win. Fifth and fourth respectively in the G2 Rebel Stakes and G2 Blue Grass Stakes, Sporting Chance went to Churchill for the Pat Day Mile, run over a sloppy sealed track. After checking near the five-furlong mark, Sporting Chance recovered to make a sweeping move through the turn, came eight wide and was making up ground on the leaders, eventually finishing fourth. Eventual Triple Crown winner Justify won Sporting Chance’s attempt at the middle jewel, and 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso was third in his Jim Dandy attempt.
“Sporting Chance always gave it his all,” said Fred Alexander. “We just couldn’t be more excited to have a Grade 1 winner of $409,790 in New Mexico. He is a gorgeous individual. His owners purchased two yearlings a year with Wayne and went on to win three runnings of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, that is remarkable.”
Sporting Chance is by Hall of Famer, Horse of the Year and champion sire Tiznow, a leading link to the great sire line of Man O’ War. Sporting Chance is out of the stakes-winning Candy Ride mare, Wynning Ride, second in the G1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes, G2 Milday Handicap and third in the G1 Coaching Club of American Oaks.
Sporting Chance will stand for a fee of $5,000 live foal in 2020 and is nominated to the Breeders’ Cup along with New Mexico’s leading active sire Attila’s Storm, who will stand for $4,000 live foal in 2020. Other A&A stallions and fees for the coming year are:
Delhomme – $1,500
Diabolical – $3,500
Marking – $3,500
Proceed – $1,500
Roll Hennessy Roll – $2,500
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