Key Ranch Stallions Going Strong

Key Ranch stallions continue to prove themselves by producing solid runners. Uncle Abbie, Special Rate, and Wajir all began their careers at Key Ranch. From five crops to race, Uncle Abbie has four Texas Championships to his credit. Special Rate has already sired a stakes horse in his first crop. Wajir, with limited opportunity, has produced a string of solid, check-cashing horses. Lil’s Lad came to Key Ranch with an impressive list of black type from only a few crops of racing age, and has steadily continued to add to that list. Tinners Way has seen his stats improve over his seasons in Kentucky and California. 

UNCLE ABBIE runners earned $465,534, in 2009, bringing his progeny earnings to over $1.8 million. He gained another stakes winner, UNCLE ROSE, and another stakes-placed filly, Monica’s Skirmish. Twice Texas Champion Filly WRENICE added an additional stakes placing to her impressive race record. Uncle Abbie climbs higher on the Texas Sires List every year. The remarkable soundness and durability of his runners will no doubt contribute to his continued success as a top Texas sire.

SPECIAL RATE began his stallion career in fine fashion, with 100% winners. He led the 2009 Texas Freshman Sire list by percentage of winners, average earnings per starter, and average earnings index. His first starter, Valid Heart, won at first asking in the Manor Downs Futurity trials. In the finals, Valid Heart took a couple of stumbling steps that cost him the win, but he still became stakes-placed in his second start. In June, SPECIAL RED BIRD won at Lone Star Park. On New Year’s Day, ORNERY won at Sam Houston Race Park. COZAMOTION and MOONBEAM SPECIAL both won in January of this year. The runners by Special Rate have won or placed on the dirt, on the turf, and in the mud.  With wins from 4 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/6 miles, and with larger numbers of foals in each successive crop, we have every reason to believe that Special Rate is our next rising star.

LIL'S LAD runners picked up another $378,820 in 2009. Easter Bonus became stakes placed, and brought her earnings to over $124,000. She joins seven stakes winners, 10 other stakes horses, and five other earners over $100,000, at the top of the list for Lil’s Lad. All from only seven crops of racing age.

For TINNERS WAY, 2009 brought another stakes placing for Way Up There. The 2009 two-year-old starters by Tinners Way all won or placed. Lifetime progeny earnings passed the $3.1 million mark for the Millionaire son of SECETARIAT.

WAJIR continues to sire good runners who keep on cashing checks. WAJIR ON ME had an outstanding year in 2009, with wins in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He brought his earnings to over $100,00, and just missed being name the Horse of the Meet at Remington Park. 

The return of SCRAPPY ROO, by the late ROO ART, keeps the first Graded Stakes winner sired at Key Ranch in the news. On December 5, Scrappy Roo ran a game second by a neck in the King Richard Stakes, 1 1/8 miles on the turf, at Sam Houston Race Park.


Wtih the next crops about to hit the track, we expect 2010 to be an exciting year for Key Ranch, and invite you to be a part of it.