First Son of Justify Retired to Stud

Media Release - Saturday October 21

Leading 3-year-old Arabian Lion, who became Justify’s first Grade 1 winner after capturing this year’s Woody Stephens S. (G1) at Belmont, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Spendthrift Farm for the 2024 breeding season at an introductory fee will be US$30,000 S&N.

G1 winning Justify colt Arabian Lion will stand at Spendthrift Farm.

“Arabian Lion is a tremendous-looking individual and he showed real brilliance on the track. His win in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens was arguably the best performance this year by a 3-year-old, and the speed figures back that up,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “We are grateful to Mr. Zedan for the opportunity to stand another one of his stars. He and his team have obviously done a great job of acquiring and racing the best of the best, and those are the type of stallion prospects we are looking to stand at Spendthrift.”  

Campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables, Arabian Lion broke his maiden by three lengths on debut as a 2-year-old at Santa Anita, running six furlongs in 1:09.78. He was named as a “Rising Star” by the Thoroughbred Daily News after the performance. As a 3-year-old, the powerfully built chestnut colt stretched out around two turns and was a narrow runner-up to First Mission in the Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland, before decisively capturing the Sir Barton Stakes by four lengths on the Preakness undercard a month later at Pimlico, earning a 103 Beyer.

Advertisement

Arabian Lion showed his versatility by turning back to one turn in the prestigious Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day, running seven furlongs in 1:21.70 and earning a 109 Beyer – the second fastest Beyer by a sophomore to date in 2023.

Arabian Lion retires as Triple Crown winner Justify’s first Grade 1 winner entering stud, with earnings of $498,100 for trainer Bob Baffert and Zedan Racing. The colt was purchased for $600,000 at the 2022 OBS April Sale for 2-year-olds in training after breezing an eighth of a mile in 10 seconds flat. Out of the stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Unbound, Arabian Lion hails from one of the Phipps’ top families, as his third dam is the great race mare and producer, Personal Ensign.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Lisa Kennedy Recognized for Thoroughbred Welfare
Lisa Kennedy has always had a passion for thoroughbreds, and her efforts in guiding retired racehorses into new careers through EventStars were celebrated at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards last Sunday as the winner of the Care and Welfare Excellence Award.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
New Juvenile Stakes-Winner Wootton Bassett
A two year-old Wootton Bassett  colt bred to stay, Daytona made it two wins as many starts when scoring a dominant win in the Listed Pat Smullen Stakes (1m) at Naas in Ireland overnight.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sword Poised to Strike
When the first crop yearlings by a young stallion are well received and go into the right stables that’s always a good sign and then a few months after that is when things start to get really interesting.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 4
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.