Gainesway announced Jan. 31 that 2005 dual American classic winner Afleet Alex has been pensioned from stallion duties.
"He is in great health currently and will remain at Gainesway for the entirety of his retirement, available to be visited by all of his fans on Horse Country tours," the farm said in a statement.
Afleet Alex, a 20-year-old son of Northern Afleet, has sired 39 black-type winners to date, including grade 1 winners Texas Red , Iotapa, Afleet Express, Materiality, Sharla Rae, and Dublin. He also sired four champions, including 2020 Canadian champion older horse Skywire.
"I got to see him at the end of October, and he looked fantastic," said Chuck Zacney, managing partner for Cash is King, which campaigned Afleet Alex. "It has been a great ride. I'm thrilled to see his daughters producing strong runners as well. I go to the sales and I look for 'Alex' on the dam side. I think we'll continue to see 'Alex' at the races on both sides of the pedigree."
Bred in Florida by John Martin Silvertand, Afleet Alex was sold to Zacney's CJZ Racing Stable at the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale for $75,000 out of the consignment of Robert N. Scanlon, agent. The colt made his first start about five weeks later for Cash is King and trainer Tim Ritchey at Delaware Park, where he won his debut by 11 1/4 lengths. He won again three weeks later, this time by 12 lengths, and was sent to Saratoga Race Course where he extended his winning streak with wins in the Sanford Stakes (G2) and the Hopeful Stakes (G1). Afleet Alex ended his juvenile campaign with seconds in the Champagne Stakes (G1) and the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
At 3, Afleet Alex had only one off-the-board finish out of six starts, with the others including victories in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). His Preakness win earned a place in racing lore because he was knocked to his knees at the top of the stretch and recovered to win by 4 3/4 lengths. He was named U.S. champion 3-year-old colt for 2005.
"In my opinion, he ran the best Preakness ever and one of the best races of all time," said Zacney.
Afleet Alex retired with an 8-2-1 record from 12 starts and earned $2,765,800.
As a sire, Texas Red became Afleet Alex's top performer by earnings. The colt placed in the FrontRunner Stakes (G1) before winning the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). At 3, he won the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on his way to earning $1,767,300. Iotapa is Afleet Alex's most accomplished daughter on the track having won the Vanity Stakes (G1) and Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) in 2014. She won or placed 13 times out of 14 starts and earned $1,032,796.
As a broodmare sire, Afleet Alex has been represented by 13 stakes winners and seven graded stakes winners. His top performers include 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston , by Awesome Again out of La Gran Bailadora, and Starlet Stakes (G1) winner Dream Tree, by Uncle Mo out of Afleet Maggi.
"I sent several mares to 'Alex' last year, including a nice Into Mischief filly," said Zacney. "She is due to drop mid-February, and I can't wait to see the foal. This one will be near and dear to me."
