The Taylor family’s Taylor Made Stallions purchased an interest in Graydar, impressive winner of the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and New Orleans Handicap (gr. II) this year. Graydar is campaigned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables, which agreed to partner with Taylor Made on the 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song .
“Graydar is the closest thing I’ve seen to Unbridled’s Song, and obviously we’ve had the privilege to be around a lot of good ones through the years,” said Taylor Made president and CEO Duncan Taylor in a release. “Graydar’s combination of looks, class, and sheer brilliance remind me of his sire, both on and off the racetrack, and he has that special presence about him like Unbridled’s Song had.
“We felt like we had to be a part of Graydar after his awesome performance in the Donn, and we were fortunate enough to partner on the horse back in February with Steve Davison, Randy Gullatt, and the Twin Creeks group, who we’ve had a long and good relationship with,” added Taylor. “The entire Thoroughbred community suffered a big loss with the passing of Unbridled’s Song, and we felt it was time to announce some good news. We’re extremely excited and carry big hopes for Graydar. We’ve always felt that he would be a great heir to carry on his terrific sire line.”
Unbridled’s Song, who stood 17 seasons at Taylor Made, was euthanized July 26 after a rapid decline in his health as a result of a large mass present in multiple sinus cavities and around the optic nerves.
Graydar has displayed immense talent from the start, dominating a Gulfstream Park maiden race by 8 1/2 lengths last year in his career debut and earning a 100 Beyer. He returned to romp by seven lengths in a one-mile allowance race as a 3-year-old at Gulfstream, stopping the clock in 1:33.72—just a hundredth of a second off the track record held by Commentator.
Graydar then stepped into graded stakes company with his easy three-length victory in the Donn Feb. 9, where he earned a 109 Beyer. In the process he gave his sire Unbridled’s Song a landmark of 100 career stakes winners, as well as his 15th grade I winner.
Graydar showed another dimension to win the New Orleans Handicap March 30 from off the pace over several graded stakes winners, including Mark Valeski, Bourbon Courage, and Flat Out, which vaulted him to the top of the older horse division in North America.
The imposing gray colt was given a break following his three straight wins, and he’s now back breezing at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Todd Pletcher in preparation for the second half of the year, with the primary goal being the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) in November at Santa Anita Park.
By BloodHorse Staff
