Undefeated Grade 1 winner Mastery made his much anticipated arrival at Claiborne Farm June 12. He has been retired from racing and will begin stud duty at the legendary stallion farm in 2018, according to representative Bernie Sams. The three-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG) was a perfect 4-for-4 in his racing career, including dominant victories in last year’s Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (gr.I) and Bob Hope Stakes (gr.III), and this year’s San Felipe (gr.II).
In the San Felipe Stakes, Mastery was again much the best, winning impressively by nearly 7 lengths and solidified his position as a top contender for this year’s Triple Crown. The dominant victory in the San Felipe proved bittersweet, however, when Mastery pulled up following the race. Subsequent xrays unfortunately revealed a condylar fracture in his front left leg. On March 13, Mastery underwent successful surgery, which trainer Bob Baffert said “went very well.” Sams added, “He’s on the path to full recovery. He’s an impressive, powerful looking colt and arrived in great condition. We’re honored to have him join our stallion roster.”
Owner Everett Dobson of Cheyenne Stables commented, “I want to commend the extraordinary effort by Bob Baffert and his team rehabbing Mastery in California and getting him back to this point. I’m very appreciative and extremely excited about his arrival at Claiborne Farm for the next chapter in his career.”
“He was just starting to mature,” said Baffert. “I’m still sick about him getting hurt. It’s safe to say he was on the same path as American Pharoah, the way he was dominating his races.”
Mastery was bred in Kentucky by Stone Farm. He was purchased from the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Cromwell Bloodstock for $425,000. He was undefeated in four starts with earnings of $511,200. By Candy Ride (ARG) and out of the winning Old Trieste mare Steady Course, Mastery is a half-brother to stakes winner Clear Sailing. His dam is a half-sister to Jump Start, winner of the Champagne Stakes (gr.I) and now the perennial leading sire of the Mid Atlantic region. His third dam is a full-sister to the great sire Miswaki.
Mastery will join a talented stallion roster at Claiborne Farm that includes top international sire War Front, Eclipse Champions Blame and Runhappy, Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Flatter, First Samurai, Data Link, Lea, Algorithms, Ironicus and Trappe Shot.
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Posted by Allison Bishop