Stone Farm's 50 Years of Breeding Excellence Continues

Stone Farm's legendary half-century history of producing top racehorses—steeped in the Hancock family's renowned Kentucky breeding heritage—continues with Growth Equity. The Nyquist colt stamped his ticket to the Belmont Stakes (G1) by winning the traditional local prep, the Peter Pan Stakes (G3). Stone Farm is well acquainted with the winner's circle at racing's highest levels. Under the leadership of Arthur Hancock III since 1970, Stone Farm has sustained a legacy of breeding world-class, highly sought-after Thoroughbreds. Stone Farm's Arthur Hancock III bred 1988 Belmont Stakes winner Risen Star in partnership with L.J. Peters, and raised the breed-shaping stallion Sunday Silence, who won the 1989 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) and was runner-up to his rival Easy Goer in the Belmont. Among some of Stone Farm's other notable graduates is 2000 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Fusaichi Pegasus, who did not get his chance to make it into the starting gate for the Belmont because of a foot injury. The multiple graded stakes-winning son of Mr. Prospector proved Stone Farm's ability to breed not only elite racehorses, but also top-tier sales prospects. Fusaichi Pegasus demanded $4 million from Fusao Sekiguchi as a yearling at the 1998 Keeneland July Sale of Selected Yearlings. Stone Farm shares the ultimate goal of every premier breeding program: to raise horses capable of competing in the classics. Growth Equity has the chance to be the first horse bred solely by Stone Farm to capture the third jewel of the Triple Crown. "This is what we strive to do; it's very exciting," said vice president of Stone Farm Lynn Hancock. "He really looks like he's coming into himself. We're very proud of him." Growth Equity enters the Belmont at Saratoga Race Course off a 2-length win in the Peter Pan for trainer Chad Brown. The lightly raced colt broke his maiden just three months ago, winning a maiden special weight at Aqueduct Racetrack by 4 1/4 lengths, after two runner-up efforts. Prominent owner Klaravich Stables purchased the son of Nyquist for $425,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Growth Equity is out of the graded stakes-placed mare My Dear Venezuela, whom Stone Farm purchased for $440,000 in foal to Arrogate at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. "We always had really high hopes for her," Hancock said about My Dear Venezuela. "She's really balanced, kind of medium-sized, the type of mare we like. We stretched a little bit for her, but we always had high hopes that she could produce something." Each year, Lynn and her father, Arthur Hancock, sit down with renowned bloodstock agent Marette Farrell to go over the matings for the broodmare band at Stone Farm. "Marette Farrell helps us with our matings, and she's a big fan of Nyquist," she said. One of the top Nyquist progeny Farrell has purchased at public auction is 2025 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) winner Cavalieri, bought on behalf of Speedway Stables. "We were always optimistic about the family (of My Dear Venezuela)," Lynn Hancock added. "To have her as a graded stakes producer, with his win in the Peter Pan, that was really exciting, because it validated what we thought she could do." Since returning to the farm 10 years ago, Hancock has cherished every moment of working alongside her father. "It's been a real privilege to learn from him; he's always telling me things that his father told him, and his grandfather told his father. It's a real blessing to have that wealth of knowledge. He started our farm and set it up for success with our big fields, and the way that we raise horses. "I love working alongside my family, and my mom (Staci) is very involved, so it's a real treat." Hancock also gave credit to the whole team at Stone Farm, which bears the slogan, "We're trying to raise you a good horse." "First and foremost, our clients are so important to us," she said. "We've had some really amazing clients that we're fortunate enough to be associated with, and have the opportunity to raise their horses. "Our crew is phenomenal. Joey Luttrell has been with us for a long time. He's running the broodmare side of things. Our yearling manager is Oscar Galvez. Everybody that works on the farm works so hard. This is our goal—to achieve getting these horses to the big races. It's a lot of time and effort and sleepless nights—we're very grateful to have some good people out here in Bourbon County."