Haskell Invitational winner Girvin to stand at Ocala Stud
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Girvin, winner of the 2017 Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1), has been retired and will stand the 2019 breeding season at Ocala Stud in Ocala, FL., it was announced today. Owners Brad and Misty Grady of Grand Oaks Farm have partnered with Kentucky-based Airdrie Stud, in a deal structured by West Bloodstock, to co-own Girvin through his stallion career.

“We’ve been big fans of Mr. Grady’s horse for a long time and are hugely appreciative of the opportunity he’s given us to partner on his stallion career,” said Brereton Jones. “Girvin was a tremendously talented racehorse that was versatile enough to outsprint his rivals at two and stretch out to win the Louisiana Derby and Haskell at three, and he’s as gorgeous as he is gifted. Between the Grady family, the O’Farrell family and Airdrie Stud, there will not be a better-supported horse standing in Florida this season. We wholeheartedly believe Girvin’s going to reward us for it.”

Girvin came out running for trainer Joe Sharp, winning his career debut at Fair Grounds in December of his 2-year-old year, covering six furlongs in 1:10.32. As a 3-year-old, Girvin scored the biggest victory of his career and solidified his place among the best of his crop with a game victory in the $1,000,000 Haskell at Monmouth Park, defeating multiple graded stakes winners McCraken, Practical Joke, Irish War Cry and subsequent Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner Battle of Midway.

He scored back-to-back stakes victories earlier that season, winning both the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the Louisiana Derby (G2), and went postward in the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) as the top point earner on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Following a troubled 13th-place finish in the Derby, Girvin finished a close second in the Ohio Derby (G3) before capturing the Haskell. In his lone outing this year at four, Girvin was runner-up to eventual Met Mile (G1) winner Bee Jersey in the Steve Sexton Mile (G3) at Lone Star Park and he retires with a record of 10-4-3-0, having bankrolled $1,624,392.

“Physically, Girvin is a handsome, grand-looking horse who was precocious and became one of the best and most accomplished 3-year-olds of his generation,” said Ocala Stud’s David O’Farrell. “We are excited about having the opportunity to stand Girvin and to work with the Gradys and Airdrie Stud.”

A 4-year-old son of Tale of Ekati, Girvin is produced from the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon and is a half-brother to Iroquois Stakes (G3) winner Cocked and Loaded. He was bred in Kentucky by Bob Austin and John Witte.

For more information about Girvin, please contact David or Joe O’Farrell at 352-237-2171 or visit www.OcalaStud.com.

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