Spendthrift Farm has secured the breeding rights to undefeated Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) contender Rock Your World, it was announced Thursday.
Rock Your World – the second choice on the morning line for Saturday's coveted $3 million Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs – will stand stud at the historical Lexington-based farm upon his retirement from racing.
“We are really excited about Rock Your World and thankful to the Hronis family, Michael Talla, and John Sadler for allowing us to be a part of the horse’s promising future,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift General Manager.
“Rock Your World has a wonderful combination of sheer talent, pedigree and sire power, and he’s an imposing physical specimen which you would expect from a $650,000 yearling. We were especially taken by the brilliance he displayed in the Santa Anita Derby in his first start on the dirt, and think he has a great shot to show that again in the Kentucky Derby and beyond.”
Trained by John Sadler, Rock Your World began his racing career on New Year’s Day, winning on debut at six furlongs before stretching out around two turns to win the one-mile Pasadena S. in his second start – both coming over the Santa Anita turf course. Earlier this month, the son of Candy Ride (Arg) asserted himself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby with a powerhouse 4 ¼-length victory in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby in his first start on the dirt.
He stopped the clock in 1:49.17 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast local main track, earning a 100 Beyer – the only triple-digit Beyer earned among this year’s Kentucky Derby field.
Rock Your World enters the Derby 3-for-3 with earnings of $546,600 for owners Hronis Racing and Talla Racing, which acquired the bay colt as a yearling for $650,000 at the annual Keeneland September sale with bloodstock agent David Ingordo signing the ticket.
Rock Your World is out of the multiple stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker. His first three dams are all multiple stakes winners or graded stakes winners.
“We are excited about of our relationship with Spendthrift Farm on such a special horse like Rock Your World,” said Kosta Hronis of Hronis Racing. “It is hard to argue with the success they’ve had when it comes to standing premier stallions, and we are hopeful we can accomplish a lot with this colt before we retire him to stud.”
“We are thrilled to have a horse like this,” added Michael Talla. “Hopefully, Rock Your World will be the son to carry on the Candy Ride sire line, and I can’t think of a better place than Spendthrift for him to get the opportunity to do that.”
Rock Your World will break from post 15 and will be ridden by Joel Rosario in the Derby. Before traveling to Louisville last Sunday, he breezed five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Apr. 24 at Santa Anita in his final serious work in preparation for Saturday.
