Note: Throughout the year, I will be featuring 1 Freshman Stallion every other week (whenever there is not a Pedigree Look). They might be well known, they might not be. As the year goes on, I will be updating their posts with information on their foals and how they are doing. Today's post is about the Rahy stallion Lewis Michael.
Lewis Michael has been overlooked almost his entire life. First as a racer, where his full little sister was Champion 2yo Female in 2006, then at his new home Three Chimneys where he had the unfortunate timing in going into the breeding shed at the same time and place as Big Brown. Still, the G2 winner was no slouch on the race track.
By Rahy out of the Broad Brush mare Justenoughheart, Lewis won stakes races as a 2,4 and 5 year old. Among the horses he defeated including Lawyer Ron, A.P. Arrow and Midnight Lute. He won the Washington Park Handicap which you can see below and the Pat O'Brien Handicap.
Among his graded stakes placedments where 3rd behind Barbaro in the Tropical Park Derby (which would be the final start on turf for the beloved star), 2nd in the Peter Pan behind Sunriver (who would finish third in the Belmont before embarking on a successful turf career), 2nd in the Perryville behind Midnight Lute (who he would defeat two years later), 2nd in the Commonwealth behind Silent Name (JPN) and finishing second in the Hashin behind Spotsgone (ahead of future G1 winner Purim). He finished his career with 23 starts: 7 wins, 6 seconds, 2 third and earnings of $811,714
His Parents:
Sire
Rahy (Blushing Groom (FR)) ran part of his career in England where in 1987 he won the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton. In the US, he won the G2 Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park. As a sire, he has had several champions including Lewis' full sister Dreaming of Anna. One of them Breeders' Cup Turf winner, Eclipse Turf Male Champion and Europe's Horse of the Year Fantastic Light. The other is one of two fillies to win the Haskell, Champion 3yo Filly and Hall of Famer Serena's Song. He is also the sire of G2 winner Mariah's Storm who defeated Serena in her return to Turfway where she had previously won the Jim Beam in 1995. Mariah is more known for 2 things, the dam of 2000 European Horse of the Year and BCC runner up Giant's Causeway, and being the inspiration for the movie Dreamer.
Rahy's Sire Blushing Groom (FR) (Red God) won the Grand Criterium (the most prestigious race for 2yo's in France) and French 2,000 Guineas. As a stud, he would be one of the best. One of his best son's (if not the best) is Arazi who would not only win the Grand Criterium like his sire, but the Breeders' Cup Juvenile very impressively (he was a bust at stud, but does have a G1 winner in Congaree, as a broodmare sire he has Melbourne Cup winner Americain (Dynaformer) and Dubai World Cup winner Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) (it should be noted that both Dynaformer and Red Ransom are by Roberto)). Other super foals include Hollywood Gold Cup winner Blushing John, Beverly D winner Fire the Groom, English 2,000 Guineas winner Nashwan, multiple G1 placed Shy Tom, Epsom Oaks winner Snow Bride, super sire Candy Stripes, Arc winner Rainbow Quest, Hall of Famer Sky Beauty, and PA Derby winner Morning Bob.
Rahy's dam Glorious Song (Halo) is one of the greatest Canadian bred fillies of all time. Not only did she win many great stakes at Woodbine (including the Wonder Where, the Maple Leaf, and Dominion Day (twice)), but at Santa Anita and Keeneland as well. She is a full sister to two of stallions who would have success in the shed, Devil's Bag (sire of Devil His Due, Buy the Sport) and Saint Ballado (sire of Sunriver, Ashado and Saint Liam). Other then Rahy, Glorious Song would throw Dubai World Cup winner and runner up in the Breeders' Cup Turf Singspiel (IRE) (In the Wings (IRE)).
Dam
Justenuffheart (Broad Brush) put a little bit of herself into her son. Like Lewis, she was a little bit of a slacker compared to her more accomplished siblings. She won a few small stakes and finished third in a G3, but her siblings where amazing. One of her 1/2 siblings is G1 winner Precious Kitten (Catienus) who had put her sire on the map with her wins in the Mabee and Gamely. However, her younger brother would become a superstar. That of course is BC Turf runner up and Eclipse Champion Turf Male Kitten's Joy (El Prado (IRE)). Not only would he win the Secretariat, VA Derby and Hircsh was a 3yo, he would follow it up with a win in the Firecraker before ending his career with a runner up finish in the Arlington Million.
Justenuffheart's sire Broad Brush (Ack Ack) won many great races including the SA Handicap, Meadowlands Cup, Jim Beam, Wood Memorial and Suburban Handicap among others. As a sire, he has Peter Pan winner Best of Luck (who is the broodmare sire of Blind Luck), G1 placed in Japan Broad Appeal, G3 placed Encaustic, Pimlico Special winner Include, and BCC winner Concern.
Her dam, Kitten's First (Lear Fan) won only once in her career. However, she would produced G1 winners in Precious Kitten and Kitten's Joy (with KJ being a champion). The latter is enjoying a successful stud career so far with a Breeders' Cup winner in Stephanie's Kitten and Lane's End winner Dean's Kitten.
Expectation: Despite being a full brother to a 2yo champion, I'm not sure his foals will be precarious enough to stay with the top horses for earnings. I think a Top 30 finish would be very solid for him. Lewis Michael stands at Three Chimneys for a stud fee of $3,000.
Up next: Sixties Icon (GB)
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