[align=center][color=green]Stallion Spotlight: [color=green]March I
ICh. Gunningdownromance
2007 chestnut Thoroughbred stallion, 15.0hh
What’s It Worth § x Seek For Love § [Created]
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CAREER
Bred by Stillwater Farms, Gunningdownromance won 18 of 46 lifetime start with career earnings of $10,995,350. 40 of the starts were stakes races in which he was on the board in 30 of those starts. During a career span of 3 years, Gunningdownromance set 1 speed record on the dirt at 6.5f. He is a 2-time winner of the Breeder’s Cup Classic (2010 & 2011) as well as winner of the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and UAE Derby as a 3 year old.
Gunningdownromance had an impressive career so I’d like to take the time to highlight that!
AT 2
At 2, he was a Triple Series winner and won all 3 major 2yo races, the Champagne Stakes (G1), the Futurity Stakes (G1), and the Hopeful Stakes (G1).
He also placed in the Highland Bandit Breeders’ Stakes (G1), National Stakes (G1), Planet Hollywood Breeders’ Stakes (G2), and Sanford Stakes (G2). He then showed in the Champagne Classic (G3).
AT 3
Gunningdownromance hit the usual Derby trail as a 3yo, after coming in 2nd in the Florida Derby (G1), he won the UAE Derby (G2) & Derby Trial (G3). After an impressive start, he also went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Belmont Stakes (G1), the Travers Stakes (G1), and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Other notable victories include the Underwood Stakes (G1), San Diego Handicap (G2) and Cadbury Tasmanian Derby (G3). Also as a 3yo he placed or showed in Spectacular Bid Breeders’ Stakes (G1), Whitney Handicap (G1), Jerome Stakes (G2), What’s It Worth Breeders’ Stakes (G2), and Cross Roads Breeders’ Stakes (G3).
AT 4
At 4, Gunningdownromance again won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), as well as the Woodward Stakes (G1) and the Lonesome Glory Breeders’ Stakes (G2).
Gunningdownromance seemed to hit his best stride at age 3, with his most earnings coming in that season at $6,341,350. At 2
He frequently ran and won against future stallions Devil His Due, Player, Robin Hood, Stressed, Nightfight, Strider, Mr Prospective, Bellagio, and Sleipnir.
He is also 9th Overall in Top 10 Money Earning Horses in the Final Furlong Hall of Fame!
INJURY HISTORY
Gunningdownromance had one in his career. He suffered from swelling (LH) in 2010.
LINEAGE
His sire, WHAT’S IT WORTH, Platinum-ranked (9.6), had 127 foals, 73 stakes winners and 49 MSW’s with a phenomenal 37 millionaires. These millionaires include FFCh. TakeMeToHollywood, FFCh. Foolhardy, WCh. I’m Your Angel, WCh. Worth My Time, WCh. What’s Debatable, ICh. Worth the Wait, ICh. Candidate, ICh. Chivalry, ICh. Worth the Risk, ICh. What’s Your Dream, NCh. Arda, NCh. Black Warrior, NCh. Beautiful Dreamer, NCh. Fleet Street, NCh. Highland Wizard, NCh. Sneak Peak, GCh. Worthy Sage, GCh. Worth My While, GCh. Fine Notice, GCh. Fanfare, Ch. Olympic Colors, and many more. He has 11 gold-ranked daughters, 18 silver, and 19 bronze. By far one of the most famous sire of sires next to the Highland line, he is the sire of retired stallions Highland Wizard, What’s Debatable, Worth My While, Worth the Wait, TakeMeToHollywood, Tryst of Fate, I’m Your Angel, and Black Warrior. Currently his actively standing stallions, beside subject stallion Gunningdownromance, are Candidate, Chivalry, Eighteen Karat, and Express Yourself.
His dam SEEK FOR LOVE, Platinum-ranked (10.9), produced 12 foals, 11 winners, and 3 multiple stakes winners. In additional to Gunningdownromance, she produced MSW ICh. Eternal Lady and MSW NCh. Bandit’s Love. Through her daughters she is the granddam of GCh. Dancing Shadow, Ch. The Confessor, Ch. Foolever, and Ch. Shady Lane. She is of all created lines.
SIRE RECORD
At the time of this post, he is Silver-ranked (4.0). Gunningdownromance has sired more than 222 foals from 10 crops with 59% starters, 70% winners, 21% stakes winners and 11% multiple stakes winners, including 4 millionaires. His average earnings for foals is $162,115. Some of his highest-earning offspring are GCh. Aficionado, GCh. Ghost Hunter, GCh. Risky Romance, GCh. Stage Romance, and GCh. What is Love. Currently, he is unranked as a broodmare sire, but he has 23 mares retired to brood.
Out of 65 stallions w/ started offspring:
- 8th in highest winning percentage of offspring
- 7th in offspring earnings
- 12th in highest G1-placed offspring
- 3rd in G1-winning offspring
Leading Earners
- [color=green] GCH. AFICIONADO ($2,145,050). Winner of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Spring Champion Stakes (G1), Juvenile Steeplchase (G2), Blue Diamond Prelude (G3), and Historic Stakes (G3). Set a speed record at 8.5f on the turf.
- [color=red]GCH. WHAT IS LOVE ($1,292,600) Winner of Irish Two Thousand Guineas (G1), SA Oaks (G1), Rampart Handicap (G2), and Tattersall’s Cup (G3).
- [color=blue]CH. SKIP TO ROMANCE ($1,285,950) Placed in Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and Jerome Stakes (G2).
- [color=red]GCH. STAGE ROMANCE ($1,312,000) Winner of Seeing Starz Breeders’ Stakes (G1), Sunshine Millions Oaks (G1), Test Stakes (G1), Brandywin Breeders’ Stakes (G2), Tempted Stakes (G3), and San Miguel Stakes (G3). 2019 2 Year Old Filly Eclipse Award Winner and 2020 Springer Eclipse Award Winner.
- [color=blue]GCH. GHOST HUNTER ($816,600). Winner of Peter Pan Stakes (G2) John F. Feehan Stakes (G2), and Geelong Cup (G3).
Foals for Thought
Of his 14 MSW, 1 had their best career year at age 2, 12 at age 3 and 4, and 1 at age 5.
Breeding Suggestions: Matching successful line crosses
- Of his 14 MSW offspring, lines include Highland Rogue, Ghost I’m Good, Lonesome Glory, Red Sunset, Secretary, Whirlaway, Brazen Remark, Rainbow Quest, Magic Glory, and Highland Laird.
- Looking at his SW & SP offspring, lines include Affirmed, Highland Rogue, Lonesome Glory, Rainbow Quest, Black Satin, Planet Hollywood, Point Given, Conspiracy Theory, Crimson Lad, Almost Home, High Chances, and Jazz It Up.
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Gunningdownromance currently stands in New York under ownership of Desert Wind Farm for $15,000.
He does not require approval to breed to and is Breeders’ Cup nominated.[/align]
