Spring Venture blossoms in debut

WinStar Farm’s first-crop sire Spring at Last moved to second on the 2012 Freshman Sire list with Spring Venture’s powerful first-time-out victory Aug. 18 at Woodbine, making him the sixth winner this year for his sire.

With $245,000 in progeny earnings, Spring at Last also ranks third in that category among the first-year sires. He is also one of only two sires with three stakes horses.

Spring Venture came away near the back of the 12-horse field on the Woodbine turf, but steadily made her way around the field, going well off the rail on the turn. Without any urging from her rider coming into the stretch, the chestnut filly strolled to the lead and drew off to a 4 1/4-length victory under a hand ride. The final time for the seven furlongs on the firm turf was 1:23.06.

Bred in Kentucky by Stoneway Farm LLC and Gary Barber, Spring Venture is now owned solely by Stoneway. She is out of the stakes-placed mare Zahwah, who has also produced the multiple stakes-placed filly Swift Artist.

Spring Venture was offered at this June’s OBS Horses of Racing Age sale, where she brought a winning bid of $320,000 from Justin Casse, agent. The figure was the second-highest price of the sale.