Abel Tasman added to Keeneland January

Media Release - Wednesday November 28

Champion Abel Tasman, who won the 2017 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and five other Grade 1 races while earning nearly $2,8 million in her career, will be offered as a broodmare prospect by Taylor Made Sales Agency at Keeneland's 2019 January Horses of All Ages Sale.

Abel TasmanCataloged as Hip 288, Abel Tasman will sell Monday, Jan. 7, opening day of the January Sale. The auction runs through Thursday, Jan. 10.

"What can I say? Abel Tasman is a rare collector's item," said Mark Taylor, Taylor Made's Vice President of Marketing and Public Sales Operations. "She is a futurefirst ballot Hall of Fame inductee. We are privileged to have the opportunity to present her to the best breeders from around the globe."

Trained by Bob Baffert for China Horse Club and breeder Clearsky Farms, Abel Tasman ranks as one of the finest distaffers of her generation with Grade 1 victories at 2, 3 and 4 at Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, Saratoga and Los Alamitos. Six of her eight career wins came in Grade 1 stakes with runner-up finishes in three additional Grade 1 events. In a testament to her talent and versatility, Abel Tasman won at distances of 7 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, scoring from off the pace and triumphing in gate-to-wire fashion.

"Abel Tasman provided China Horse Club with some of its greatest highlights and an introduction to U.S. racing," said Michael Wallace, head of bloodstock for China Horse Club. "We were very privileged to race our champion mare with Clearsky Farms. I'll remember her as extremely talented, brave and very sound. We look forward to someone else now taking on her breeding career."

Abel Tasman flashed brilliance at 2, winning three consecutive races capped by a 1-length victory in the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos in her stakes debut.

She exceled the following year when she defeated the sport's most accomplished distaffers to earn the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Among the most celebrated achievements of her championship season was a decisive 1¼-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill. Her success continued in New York, where she pulled clear to win the Acorn (G1) at Belmont and next defeated future Grade 1 winner Elate in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga.

"(Abel Tasman) actually reminds me a lot of (Triple Crown winner) American Pharoah because she's so smart," Baffert told Alicia Wincze Hughes of BloodHorse earlier this year. "And she tries hard every time, that's what we love about her. That's the thing with the good ones, they try hard every time."

Advertisement

Abel Tasman faced older rivals for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Del Mar. The filly's narrow loss in the Distaff to eventual champion older mare Forever Unbridled secured for her the Eclipse as champion 3-year-old filly.

This summer, Abel Tasman's talents were on full display as she returned to New York to take on the East Coast's best fillies and mares. Sent off as the even-money favorite for the Ogden Phipps (G1) at Belmont, she led from the start and rolled to a 7½-length victory as the 123-pound top weight. In another front-running performance, this time at Saratoga, she refused to relinquish the lead, holding off Elate by a neck to win the Personal Ensign (G1).

In her final two races, Abel Tasman contested the Zenyatta (G1) at Santa Anita and the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill. She retired with eight wins and four seconds in 16 starts and earnings of $2,793,385.

"Abel Tasman had the same qualities a lot of great racehorses seem to have but what really stood out to me was her grit, courage and determination," said breeder and co-owner Bernard Cleary of Clearsky Farms. "The Personal Ensign especially was a race where she really showed her heart and refused to be beaten. It's bittersweet to see her move to another home but hopefully her new owner will enjoy her as much as we have."

Abel Tasman is out of the Deputy Minister mare Vargas Girl, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Bevo and Grade 3 winner Moonlight Sonata. She is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner Sky Girl and from the family of Grade 2 winners Wilburn and Beethoven. Additionally, Abel Tasman is the leading earner for her sire, Quality Road, and is behind only Grade 2 winner Gunnevera and champion West Coast – both males – on the list of leading earners foaled in 2014.

"Abel Tasman was the hallmark of consistency with outstanding performances from coast to coast throughout her three seasons of racing," Keeneland Vice President of Racing and Sales Bob Elliston said. "Keeneland is pleased to offer this champion filly at the January Sale. She is certain to attract the attention of major buyers around the world."

Advertisment
More Reading...
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.