Breeding & Racing Magazine

Half-Brother To Pyro Born In Kentucky

A half-brother to this season's leading US 3YO classics contender Pyro (Pulpit-Wild Vision, by Wild Again) "was born at the Winchell family's Corinthia" in Kentucky, reported bloodhorse.com. The colt is by Gr1-winning sire Tapit, who stands at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. Immediately after his exciting half-brother Pyro won the US Gr2 Louisiana Derby on March 9, Darley America president Jimmy Bell announced Pyro will stand at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Darley in Kentucky at the conclusion of his racing career; Bell noted Pyro will continue to race for owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds through to this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships & "after the Breeders' Cup, Sheikh Mohammed will decide whether Pyro remains in training or retires to stud". Pyro ended his 2007 2YO campaign with consecutive runner-up finishes to US champion 2YO male War Pass in the Gr1 Champagne Stakes & Gr1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Last month he began his 3YO season by "streaking past 10 challengers in the stretch with an eye-catching last-to-first" victory in the Gr3 Risen Star Stakes & then "cemented his status as a leading contender for the Gr1 Kentucky Derby with a 3-lengths score in the Gr2 Louisiana Derby on Saturday," noted thoroughbredtimes.com. Darley America chief operating officer Dan Pride enthused: "His turn of foot in the Risen Star was just so visually impressive. Add to that his assertive victory in the Louisiana Derby & we feel extremely excited & privileged to have him coming to Darley. He has all the ingredients to be a superstar on the racetrack & at stud." Pyro (whose winning dam Wild Vision is a full-sister to Gr2-winner & sire Wild Wonder) is from the immediate family of Gr1-winning sire Olympio. To date Pyro boasts 3 wins & 3 placings from 6 starts for US$1,056,718 earnings.