Grade 1 Vosburgh (NYRA/David Alcosser)
Grade 1 winner The Lumber Guy, last year’s New York Horse of the Year, has been retired and will stand at Keane Stud in Amenia in 2014 as property of Spendthrift Farm. His fee will be $5,000 stands and nurses, and he’ll be offered in Spendthrift’s Share The Upside Program.
“When you look back at the 2012 crop of 3-year-olds, you could easily make the argument that it was one of the best we’ve seen in the last several years. By the speed figures, there wasn’t a faster 3-year-old in 2012 than The Lumber Guy,” said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. “His 110 Beyer winning the Grade 1 Vosburgh over older horses marked the fastest Beyer by a 3-year-old sprinter, and his three-quarter Ragozin in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint was the fastest of any 3-year-old period, including Trinniberg, Bodemeister, Paynter, I’ll Have Another, and all others.”
The Lumber Guy broke his maiden first-time out in January of his 3-year-old season, drawing away impressively by 9 ¼ lengths. He followed that up with a 4 ¼-length runaway win in the Miracle Wood S. in his second start, earning a 96 Beyer. After running a respectable fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G1) in just his third start, The Lumber Guy proved he was one of the best 3-year-olds around one turn with a decisive victory in the Jerome S. (G2).
Facing older horses for the first time, The Lumber Guy proved he was one best sprinters in the country with his biggest career win in the Vosburgh Invitational (G1), earning a 110 Beyer. He shipped cross country as one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) and finished a fast-closing runner-up, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind champion Trinniberg. The Lumber Guy earned a three-quarter Ragozin number for his performance, which was faster than Trinniberg’s winning number. It was also the fastest Ragozin earned by a 3-year-old in all of 2012.
“The Lumber Guy was a seriously talented racehorse, and he has the looks and pedigree to match. We’re thrilled to be able to bring him home to New York breeders for 2014,” added Spendthrift stallion director Ken Wilkins.
A homebred of Barry Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm, The Lumber Guy retires with career earnings of $790,300. By Gone West’s son Grand Slam, the speedy gray colt is out of the three-time stakes-producing mare Boltono, by Unbridled’s Song.
The Lumber Guy will be available for inspection at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington during the Keeneland January Sale before he heads to New York to take up residence at Keane Stud. For more information about The Lumber Guy or the Share The Upside Program, please contact Ken Wilkins, Des Dempsey, and Mark Toothaker at 859-294-0030.
