Sandman Will Start Stud Career in 2027 at Rockridge

Classic-placed Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman (Tapit—Distorted Music by Distorted Humor) will stand the upcoming breeding season at Rockridge Stud near Hudson, N.Y., it was announced Sept. 17. Sandman will stand for $10,000 in his initial season. The deal was brokered by Bowling Bloodstock and Ingordo Bloodstock. "We are always looking for top class stallions to stand in New York," said Rockridge Stud owner-operator Lere Visagie, who also serves as president of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. "Sandman is a stunning individual, who brought a lot of money as a 2-year-old and competed at the highest level, being on the (Kentucky) Derby trail." Jon Green, co-owner of D. J. Stable, said Sandman will continue to race ahead of his stud career, with a possible targeted start in October. His accomplishments to date figure to impress breeders when he begins his stallion career. A $1.2 million purchase at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Sandman earned his maiden win just a few months later in a $100,000 maiden special weight race in August at Saratoga Race Course. He later finished third behind Sovereignty and Tiztastic in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, followed by a second-place finish in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park early the following year. His road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) was paved in Arkansas with a close third in the Rebel Stakes (G2) behind Coal Battle and Madaket Road followed by a decisive win in the Arkansas Derby. Though the tides didn't roll his way in the Kentucky Derby, two weeks later, he finished third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) behind Journalism and Gosger. Campaigned by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables, Sandman's record to date is 3-1-3 from 14 starts, with earnings of $1,544,531. Trainer Mark Casse said Sandman's talents and intelligence should be attractive for breeders. "Sandman is an extremely talented and precocious, well-minded horse," Casse said. "Any breeder will be thrilled if their foals look like him." "We are delighted to have Sandman in New York to take advantage of the great New York breeding program," added St. Elias' Monique Delk. "As a grade 1-winning son of the great sire, and sire of sires Tapit, we feel like he will be a real standout and a great resource for Empire State breeders. We're looking forward to sending mares to support him in his new career." Sandman will stand as a property of a sold-out syndicate including CJ Stable, St. Elias Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Pantofel Stable. "The best way to market a stallion in New York is to have a base of mare support built into the ownership," Rockridge's stallion director Erin Robinson said. "We have a formula that has worked very well with Mind Control and Americanrevolution, and we have a fantastic group of breeders put together to support this stallion and get him off the ground running."