2007 Hopeful Stakes Winner
April 9 - Majestic Warrior
I have one of my absolute best stories about this horse that was raced by George Steinbrenner, but I'd have to change the names to tell the story and that would take all the fun out of it. Maybe next year I'll throw caution to the wind but for now, Happy Birthday, old buddy . . . Happy Birthday.
Majestic Warrior was a high quality colt who became a top class sire after his racing days. He was foaled in 2005 and was bred by Hall of Fame breeder and owner William S. Farish of Lane's End Farm. He was raced by Stonestreet Stables, the operation of Barbara Banke. His sire was the legendary A.P. Indy, the 1992 Horse of the Year, and his dam was Dream Supreme, a multiple Grade 1 winning sprinter and a daughter of Seeking the Gold. He carried as much pedigree as any colt of his crop, with classic stamina from his sire and quick speed from his dam.
Majestic Warrior was trained by Hall of Famer Kiaran McLaughlin for his early career. He showed his class as a two year old in 2007 by winning the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, one of the most prestigious races for two year olds in the country. The win placed him among the leading juveniles of his year and built excitement for his three year old season.
He never quite delivered on his huge potential as a three year old. He was sent to Steve Asmussen for his second campaign, but injuries and bad trips kept him from a major win on the Triple Crown trail. He retired with a record that reflected real class without quite hitting championship heights, including his Grade 1 win at Saratoga and several other strong stakes efforts.
The biggest story of Majestic Warrior came at stud. He stood at Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, where he became a steady source of classy runners. His best daughter was Princess of Sylmar, who won the 2013 Kentucky Oaks and was named the Eclipse Award Champion Three Year Old Filly. He also sired Lone Rock, the marathon specialist who became a millionaire on the dirt distance scene, and many other graded stakes winners. Majestic Warrior is remembered as a top class Hopeful Stakes winner whose real legacy came in the breeding shed, where he carried the great A.P. Indy sire line forward to the next generation.
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