Endorsed , a half brother to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish , has been purchased by Northview Stallion Station near Chesapeake City, Md., where he will enter stud this year at $5,000, the farm announced Feb. 5.
"Endorsed has been on our radar for quite some time and we're thrilled to present a horse of this quality to the Mid-Atlantic region," said David Wade, general manager of Northview Stallion Station.
Bred by Godolphin, Endorsed is an 8-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro out of grade 1 winner Dance Card (Tapit ), who won the Gazelle Stakes (G1) and was third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
"By a world class sire, out of a grade 1-winning Tapit mare, brilliant miler, multiple graded stakes winner, excellent conformation, long racing career … I could go on and on," Wade added. "Endorsed will begin covering mares March 15 as he is recovering from surgery to his right front fetlock, and we will be selective of the mares to be bred to him. Because of this, we'll stand him for an introductory fee of $5,000. He's going to be very popular and we invite breeders to come inspect him at the farm by appointment. I expect him to arrive mid-February."
Godolphin raced Endorsed through August 2021, watching him win his six-furlong debut at Saratoga Race Course at 2 in 1:11.22 and earn a 103 Equibase Speed Figure. At 3, he finished second in the Curlin Stakes and was fourth in the Travers Stakes (G1). At 4, he won a pair of allowance races and was runner-up in the Westchester Stakes (G3) and Alydar Stakes. In the Westchester, he was half a length behind multiple grade 1 winner Code of Honor and earned a career high 113 ESF.
In September 2021, owner Mark Breen and trainer Mike Maker took over racing Endorsed. Last year, he added wins in the Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) and Fred W. Hooper Stakes (G3) to his résumé. Endorsed retired with a 7-8-5 record from 36 starts and earned $970,133. He won or placed in eight black-type stakes, which included five graded stakes.
Cody's Wish, by Curlin , won seven graded stakes, including consecutive runnings of the 2022-23 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He retired with 11 wins from 16 career starts and earned more than $3.1 million. Now 6, Cody's Wish also was named 2023 champion older dirt male. He enters stud at Darley Stallions this year with a fee of $75,000.
