By Jack Werk
As we get ready for the 2010 breeding season, watch this spot regularly for a new feature here: The New Sire Showcase. I will periodically highlight new young prospects entering stud in 2010. Today, the featured stallion is Sequel Stallions New York’s Noonmark, who brings one of the most popular sire lines in N. America to New York.
NOONMARK (2003 Dk. Bay or brown c by Unbridled’s Song – In the Storm, by Storm Cat). 19 starts, 4 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds. Earned $354,900. Won G3 Mr. Prospector Handicap at 5. Sold for $275,000 as Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling. (Click here to view eNicks pedigree and click here to view Stallion Directory page). Will stand for $6,000 live foal at Sequel Stallions New York.
There’s a perception among a vocal minority that Unbridled’s Song, the sire of Noonmark, gets early maturing horses that are “fried” mid-way to the end of their 3-year-old seasons. In other words, they mean that the sire gets early maturing speed horses that do not last. Enter Noonmark, an absolutely gorgeous son of Unbridled’s Song! He didn’t win his first stakes race until he was 5, and he obviously got better with age. But, did you know that Noonmark also broke his maiden at 2 in a 5½-furlong maiden special weight at Belmont Park and won off by an incredible 10¼ lengths in the sensational time of 1:03.91?
At 3, Noonmark won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park in 1:09.40 for 6 furlongs and placed in the G2 Swale Stakes to Sharp Humor and in the G2 Woody Stephens Breeders’ Cup Stakes to Songster and Too Much Bling. Each of these horses that he host to were top sprinters.
At 4, Noonmark won an allowance in 1:08.83 for the 6 furlongs, and at age 5 he won the aforementioned G3 Mr. Prospector Handicap in 109.72 for the 6 furlongs. He placed in several other G2s and G3s, too.
So, what you have is this: An early maturing speed horse who was NOT done by his 3-year-old season! In fact, he was precocious enough to win huge at 2 and had the constitution to train on at 5. All through his career, he was a sprinter, too! And for NY breeders, he was a dirt runner who ran on the NY-FLA circuit, but was also good enough to place in stakes in the Midwest, too.
This year several high-profile sons of Unbridled’s Song have retired to stud, including the fast but strictly synthetics Zensational ($20,000), the classic contender Old Fashioned ($12,500), and the classic-placed Dunkirk ($10,000), as well as some others, too. At $6,000 live foal, Noonmark is priced competitively with this group, and although he wasn’t a championship contender like fellow sprinter Zensational, he does have the dirt form that Zensational doesn’t, the stakes win that Dunkirk doesn’t have, and the longevity that Old Fashioned lacks. Yes indeed, he fits with this group, allright!