WinStar buys into Champagne (G1) winner Daredevil

Kenny Troutt’s WinStar Farm has acquired half interest in undefeated Champagne S. (G1) winner and leading 2-year-old colt Daredevil in a partnership with Let’s Go Stable that was announced Friday.
 
The deal calls for the Grade 1-winning son of More Than Ready to stand alongside his sire at WinStar Farm in Versailles, KY at the close of his promising racing career. Todd Pletcher will remain as trainer of Daredevil, who continues preparation for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“We had been patiently looking for a top son of our leading sire More Than Ready to bring alongside in the WinStar stallion ranks, and we believe Daredevil is the most exciting one to come along yet,” said Elliott Walden, President, CEO, & Racing Manager at WinStar. “He is a Grade 1 winner on dirt, and extremely fast. His 107 Beyer winning the Champagne in hand makes him the fastest 2-year-old colt since Uncle Mo. I love the fact that there are five Grade 1 winners under his first two dams. I also love that Todd Pletcher picked him out as a yearling; nobody knows More Than Ready better than Todd, Mr. Scatuorchio, and the guys at Let’s Go Stable. We are grateful to be partners with Let’s Go in this promising young star, and we hope to share in all of the success they have had in such a short amount of time. We can’t wait to race Daredevil, and eventually add him to our stallion roster.”

Daredevil’s 107 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Oct. 4 Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont represents the fastest Beyer recorded by a 2-year-old colt since 2010. The undefeated colt covered the mile in 1:36 3/5, finishing in hand the final sixteenth of a mile to soundly defeat an accomplished field of 2-year-olds. A month prior, Daredevil scored an impressive 6 ¼-length debut win at Belmont, zipping six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 and earning a 96 Beyer – the fastest Beyer recorded by a 2-year-old first-time starter on dirt in 2014.

The chestnut colt hails from the multiple Grade 1-producing Forty Niner mare Chasethewildwind, and was purchased for $260,000 by Todd Pletcher as agent for Let’s Go Stable at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale. Daredevil has earned $345,000 to date.