By Elaine Belval
The 2-year-old California-based filly Wickedly Perfect won the G3 Sorrento S. for owner Peter Moehrike, Rafter JR Ranch and STD Racing this past weekend and signalled the arrival of her well-bred, first-crop sire, Congrats. The filly had won a 5-furlong maiden by almost five lengths in her last start. The filly is now one of four repeat winners (and one of two SWs) for her freshman sire.
Congrats is a well-bred son of A.P. Indy out of a daughter of Mr. Prospector who traces to La Troienne through Admiring and third dam Glowing Tribute. Congrats was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider (the same breeders of this weekend’s G1 Whitney winner Blame). Congrats won a maiden race at Saratoga at two. He finished third in the G2 Jim Dandy S. At 5, he won the G2 San Pasqual H. and placed in the G1 Santa Anita H. and Hollywood Gold Cup.
Congrats was retired to stud in Florida, to Cloverleaf Farms II, in a deal brokered by bloodstock writer Frank Mitchell, and proved very popular with breeders. He has more than 100 foals in his freshman crop of 2010. His 2-year-olds proved popular at the sales, too, with 33 selling for an average of almost $50,000.
His sire, A.P. Indy, is not known as being the patriarch of a precocious sireline, so it is somewhat surprising to see Congrats currently ranked second on the 2010 Freshman Sire List. But, Congrats has had two SWs already in August. Check My Cheeks won a stakes race in Puerto Rico (a G3 race in a Part II country). And now Wickedly Perfect has added the G3 Sorrento S., making her one of the top 2-year-old fillies in the US.
What is most impressive for Congrats is that he has four repeat winners (the next best is Giacomo with two!). And his two SWs are tops in that category also.
Congrats is a full brother to the well-priced stallion Flatter standing at Claiborne Farm in Kentucky. Congrats is quickly establishing himself as one of the most promising young sires in the US. He stands at Vinery Florida and his 2010 fee was $4,500.
(Elaine Belval is senior pedigree analyst at WTC.)
Congrats is a gorgeous animal. He has plenty of size, scope, and quality. His talent was considerable too, and along with his great family, he was a very good stallion prospect.
Cheers,
Frank