Trainer Frank Brothers said that Pulpit made a big impression on him as yearling. The following winter, when Pulpit was in training at Holly Hill Training Center in South Carolina, Brothers said it became clear the colt had talent. “He was the man in the group,” recalled Brothers, “he had a real presence about him.”
A couple of small setbacks kept Pulpit from running at two. Early in his 3-year-old year, however, the long-striding colt jumped onto the national stage thanks to two eye-catching wins at Gulfstream Park. Made the favorite for the Fountain of Youth-G2 in only his third start, Pulpit came off the pace to win by a length and a half. Second in the Florida Derby-G1, Pulpit then rolled to an impressive victory in Keeneland’s Blue Grass S. and gave hope of another Claiborne classic win. Injured in the Kentucky Derby while finishing fourth, Pulpit was retired with a sense of untapped potential.
At stud, he made an immediate mark. Pulpit’s first crop included Dubai Classic and Super Derby winner Essence of Dubai, and his second crop included Grade 1 winners Sky Mesa and Stroll. In his third crop came Tapit (G1) and Purge (G1). Known as a stallion with remarkable versatility, Pulpit sires top level 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds and older horses, colts and fillies, and runners that excel on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces. In addition, he has become known as a “sire of sires” with several sons already enjoying success at stud.
Pulpit died on December 6, 2012 and is buried at Claiborne. He sired some 70 stakes winners, 11 U.S. Grade 1 winners and over 40 Graded stakes winners.