(Edited press release)
Japan, the leading 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro, will stand stud at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York. His introductory fee for 2016 will be $7,500 S&N.
“Japan was the most talented horse I have owned in my 37 years in racing, and he was just beginning to scratch the surface of his ability prior to his injury while training up to the Travers this summer at Saratoga,” said Barry Schwartz, owner of Japan. “He’s a gorgeous individual by one of the best sires around in Medaglia d’Oro, and we believe he had enormous potential that went unfulfilled on the track. We believe it so much that my partners and I will be supporting Japan with some of our best mares, because this horse has a big shot at realizing that potential as a sire.”
Bred by Emory Hamilton, Japan is by leading sire Medaglia d’Oro and out of the graded stakes-producing Capote mare, Maya. He’s a full brother to the multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire, Al Khali, and hails from a top Hamilton family that includes multiple Grade 1 winner Verrazano.
Japan kicked off Kentucky Derby weekend with a buzz-worthy performance at Churchill Downs, breaking his maiden by seven lengths geared down at the wire. The striking dark bay colt bypassed his Allowance conditions and jumped straight into the $150,000 Easy Goer S. on Belmont Stakes Day at Belmont, proving best over a seasoned cast of 3-year-old stakes winners that included Stanford and Nonna’s Boy. Japan ran 1 1/16 miles in a crisp 1:42.14 in the Easy Goer, propelling him into graded stakes company in his next start.
At Saratoga, Japan battled Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Texas Red and Grade 1 winner Frosted to the wire when finishing on the board in the $600,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2), which was supposed to serve as Japan’s final prep for the $1,000,000 Travers S. (G1).
“Japan was quite impressive training up to the Travers, and I was looking forward to the opportunity to face American Pharoah because he was doing so well,” said trainer Bill Mott. “He always worked like a good horse and was just figuring out the game before his injury. He was a horse that was only going to get better and better, and he had the potential to be any kind.”
For more information about Japan, or to set up an inspection, please contact Chris Bernhard at 914-850-9769, or visit WaldorfFarm.com.
