The world of horse racing has witnessed a momentous occasion! The first reported offspring of the esteemed stallion Prince of Monaco has arrived, and it's a filly! This birth has the industry buzzing, especially considering the remarkable lineage of both sire and dam.
Wasabi Ventures Stables proudly announced the birth of this special filly on January 16th. Born on January 12th at Serendipity Springs, near Lexington, she is the first foal of the renowned Claiborne Farm's Grade 1 winner, Prince of Monaco. The dam, Itgetsgreaterlater, a mare by Justify, was purchased by the Kuegler family's Wasabi Ventures Stables for $80,000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. This mare comes from a family of champions, having produced multiple graded stakes winners, including the Grade 1 winner Cupid and Grade 2 winner Kathleen O.
George Adams, director of stallions and breeding at Wasabi Ventures Stables, was full of praise for the newborn filly. He described her as a 'beast' with exceptional substance and conformation. Adams believes that Prince of Monaco has truly left his mark on this foal, and if her siblings follow suit, the stallion's reputation will soar.
Prince of Monaco himself has an impressive racing career. As a yearling, he fetched $950,000 at Fasig-Tipton's 2022 The Saratoga Sale. Trained by the legendary Bob Baffert, he made a stunning debut at age 2, winning by an incredible 8 lengths. He then went on to claim consecutive victories in the prestigious Best Pal Stakes (G3) and the Del Mar Futurity (G1), both held at the iconic Del Mar racetrack. But here's where it gets controversial—some might argue that his later performances were less impressive.
At age 3, Prince of Monaco finished a close second to the formidable Book'em Danno in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1), missing out by just half a length. He then took second place again in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1), this time by a neck. These results might spark debate among enthusiasts, as they could be seen as a slight dip in form. However, with 176 mares bred in his first season, 25% of which were black-type horses, and a stud fee of $30,000, Prince of Monaco is undoubtedly a stallion to watch.
This birth is a significant milestone for the industry, and the future looks bright for this young filly. Will she follow in her parents' footsteps and become a racing sensation? Only time will tell. What are your thoughts on Prince of Monaco's potential as a sire? Do you think his later racing performances affect his stud prospects?
