WinStar Farm’s Colonel John made quite a splash on the 2015 Third-Crop Sire list, with his $4,278,724 progeny earnings ranking second to only fellow WinStar stallion Pioneerof the Nile, sire of Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner American Pharoah.
Colonel John, along with Pioneerof the Nile, was the only Third-Crop sire to have more than one graded stakes winner in 2015. He also led all sires in the categories of winners (89) and wins (144).
His leading earner last year was the top 2-year-old Airoforce, a sure-fire top early Kentucky Derby prospect following his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) over the Churchill Downs surface in November. The versatile colt also took the Bourbon S. (G3) on the turf at Keeneland and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
Two-time stakes winner Cocked and Loaded also tasted success at Churchill, winning the Iroquois S. (G3), as well as Belmont Park’s Tremont S.
Colonel John will stand the 2016 season at WinStar for $7,500 live foal, stands and nurses.
