Darby Dan's Modernist Gets First Winner

Darby Dan Farm's Modernist got his first winner when his son Stretch romped in a five-furlong maiden special weight race, winning by nine lengths at Lone Star Park June 15. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Phoenix Farm and Racing and is out of the Dixie Union mare Carried Away. The colt was offered at the Ocala Breeders March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale earlier this year where he sold for $90,000 out of the CM Thoroughbreds consignment to Chris Harrington. He then was bought back in April for a final bid of $70,000 at the Texas Thoroughbred Association 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Stretch opened in mid-pack, stayed within striking distance of the leaders before going five wide through the turn, and took over down the straight where he pulled away. Stretch, trained by Austin Gustafson, won in his first career start for owners Gustafson and Harrington. The final time for his dominating win was :58.64. Modernist, an 8-year-old son of Uncle Mo, won graded stakes races at 3 and 4, taking the 2020 Risen Star Stakes (G2) and the 2021 Excelsior Stakes (G3). He was bred in Kentucky by Wygod Family and trained by Bill Mott. He entered stud in 2022 and his first crop are 2-year-olds in 2025. He currently stands at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington for an advertised fee of $5,000.