Multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Colonel John (Tiznow) got his first
winner as a freshman sire when Blazing Meadows Farm and breeder WinStar Farms’
Cash Conversion wired the field in Sunday’s
2ND race at Presque Isle Downs. The
Timothy Hamm-trained juvenile grabbed the lead early and widened his lead in the stretch
with Deshawn Parker in the saddle. The 1-5 favorite crossed the wire in :53 for
the 4 1/2-furlong test over the Tapeta and finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of
stablemate Rise Up (Rockport Harbor).
Cash Conversion, who finished second in his debut on May 16, is out of the unraced Cash No Credit
(West by West), who also produced Grade 3 winner and 2006 Haskell (G1) runner-up
Praying for Cash (Songandaprayer).
Colonel John broke his maiden in only his second start and would next out
take his stakes bow in the Real Quiet before closing out his juvenile season
with a runner-up effort in the CashCall Futurity (G1). The bay opened his
sophomore campaign on a winning note, capturing both the Sham (G3) and Santa
Anita Derby (G1), and ran better than appeared when sixth in the Kentucky Derby.
He rallied from well out of it after being steadied early in the classic
contest, and was shipped back to the West Coast by trainer Eoin Harty following
that race for a brief freshening.
Colonel John returned in July to be third in the Swaps (G2) but was saving
his best for a return trip back east. The WinStar Farm homebred traveled to
Saratoga for the Travers (G1) and appeared to lose all chance after breaking in
the air, but got up in the final strides to gut out the nose decision. He faced
older runners for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita,
tiring to sixth on that occasion, before closing out the year with a
fourth-placing in the Malibu (G1).
Colonel John competed just four times in 2009 after getting a late start to
his four-year-old season. The Kentucky-bred bay scored in the Wickerr in late
July at Del Mar, was fifth in the Pacific Classic (G1) in September and made his
penultimate race a close second in the Goodwood (G1). The talented runner
attempted a rail trip in his second Breeders’ Cup Classic try, but tired to
fifth after briefly challenging in the stretch of what would be Zenyatta’s
history-making victory.
Colonel John is out of Sweet Damsel (Turkoman), making him a full brother to
stakes runner-up Kayce Ace as well as a half-brother to Grade 3-placed
Caroline’s Gold (Touch Gold). Another of his full siblings is Grade 1-placed and
current stakes-winning steeplechaser Mr. Hot Stuff. His female family is also
responsible for Grade 2 winner and classic-placed Imperialism (Langfuhr).
Joining his sire at WinStar Farm upon his retirement, Colonel John brought a
15-6-3-1 mark from the track and earnings of $1,779,012 to his new career at
stud. The eight-year-old stallion currently stands for $15,000, stands and
nurses, at the Versailles, Kentucky, farm.