Thursday, September 26th, 2024
War Dancer returns to Rockridge Stud
War Dancer, New York’s leading turf sire, will return to Rockridge Stud in Hudson for the 2025 season. Photo courtesy Sugar Plum Farm.
War Dancer, New York’s leading turf sire since 2022 and atop that list again this year, will return to stand the 2025 season at Rockridge Stud in Hudson.
The 14-year-old son of War Front started his stud career at Rockridge in 2017. He stood there for two seasons before moving to Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions prior to the 2019 season.
“We are thrilled to once again partner with Rockridge in standing War Dancer, who has proven himself as a top turf sire,” said Robin Malatino, managing partner of War Dancer LLC. “With the introduction of Tapeta at Belmont, he can only improve on his already great stallion career.”
War Dancer leads the New York turf sire list by winners (21) and progeny earnings ($1,345,404) through Wednesday. Led by multiple 2024 winner and $204,500-earner Twenty Six Black, War Dancer also ranks fourth overall on New York’s general sire list with progeny earnings of $1,965,464. He’s also the sire of Grade 3 winner and $595,063-earner Dancing Buck and stakes winners Step Dancer, Mz Big Bucks and Warsaichi and Grade 3-placed $315,973-earner Surprise Boss.
“The War Dancer Team supports their stallion at every level and we are looking forward to contributing to War Dancer’s continued success,” said Rockridge’s Lere Visagie.
War Dancer and Rockridge also announced an exciting program that will provide breeders the opportunity to participate in War Dancer’s success. Limited share availability in the newly formed “War Dancer Legacy Club” is now being offered to select breeders. For more information, contact Belinda Thomas (802) 430-9959 or Erin Robinson (859) 421-7531.
War Dancer joins the Rockridge roster that also includes Americanrevolution, Disco Partner, Mind Control, Slumber and Tourist.
October 26, 2023
It’s been an interesting summer for racing. Due to the heavy rains we experienced (practically all summer), many turf races were switched to the main dirt track or cancelled altogether. Even so, WAR DANCER progeny had a successful season, and their sire is once again in the #1 New York Turf Sire spot !
WAR DANCER himself has been relaxing at Sugar Plum Farm this summer, and will be heading back to Irish Hill Century Farm, where he stands at stud, in the next weeks. Speaking of WAR DANCER, we had another successful Open House this October, a day before the Fasig-Tipton sale. Everyone enjoyed homemade soup, chili (Saratoga Hot Dog Company) and sandwiches, accompanied by craft ciders from Saratoga Orchard . WAR DANCER loved the attention and entertained the crowd as he strutted around his paddock.
Be sure to consider WAR DANCER when selecting your sires for the 2024 season, bearing in mind that the “new” Belmont will be boasting a synthetic track !
August 13, 2023
Our favorite sire, WAR DANCER, hosted a lovely champagne brunch on Sunday, to thank breeders for another great season. The brunch took place at Sugar Plum Farm, summer home of WAR DANCER. With seating inside and outside the main barn, the group sipped their mimosa’s and enjoyed a scrumptious brunch catered by Mimi’s Café. Even the weather cooperated, making for an all around casual and fun morning.
July 24, 2023
We hosted a wonderful event, benefitting Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga, at Sugar Plum Farm, on July 15th. A casino, silent auction, food stations and music combined to create a memorable fundraiser and fun evening for everyone. For more information on THS, go to their website https://thsaratoga.org/
June 29, 2023:
We hope you will take the opportunity to join us at Sugar Plum Farm for a dinner and casino evening benefiting Therapeutic Horses Of Saratoga. Their programs not only help with the immense need for equine aftercare options, but also serve individuals in our community who struggle with mental health matters.
You are invited to attend this inaugural gala hosted by Tony and Robin Malatino at Sugar Plum Farm, home of War Dancer, to join in the mission “Rescuing Racehorses, Healing Humans”. Click on the link below for more information or to purchase tickets.
June 19, 2023:
Where has the time gone ? It seems like just yesterday that we were waiting for the grass to grow, and now it’s full blown Summer. The training track at Saratoga is open and it’s less than a month until racing begins.
WAR DANCER progeny have been making us proud at the races. Mz Big Bucks (below) won the New York Stallion Stakes on Sunday, going wire-to-wire. Other winners in the past 2 weeks were Waralo at Finger Lakes, Ruse and Brennan’s War at Belmont, and War Museum at Monmouth. With lots of races coming up, War Dancer progeny will have plenty of chances to prove their mettle.
April 11, 2023:
A sure sign of Spring in New York is the beginning of turf racing, and War Dancer son, Twenty Six Black, won the first turf race of the season at Aqueduct !!
March 10th 2023:
We were fortunate to have photographer, Samantha Decker visit Sugar Plum Farm to take photos. She got some great shots and shared a short video clip with us.
And here’s hoping we’ve seen the last of the snow for this year, but lest we forget, our friendly drone pilot stopped by after the snow and got a lovely shot of the paddocks.
January 16th, 2023: A new arrival ! At a respectable hour last evening, Shayna’s Miracle decided to lay down and have her foal. With very little difficulty, she had a beautiful filly and was a proud Mom as she proceeded to help clean up her baby. This is our first WAR DANCER foal of the year at Sugar Plum Farm. Welcome to the World, Little One. Click on link for more foal photos: https://www.sugarplumfarmsaratoga.com/newfoals
January 11th, 2023: January finds us in a New Year, anxiously awaiting our new WAR DANCER foals. Our December Stallion Open House was a great success and it was good to see old friends, meet new ones, and put faces to the people we have been in contact with remotely. WAR DANCER provided us with his usual show, rearing up to please the crowd. He looks spectacular, thanks to Rick Burke, Bill Leak and their Team at Irish Hill.
November 25th: Heading into December we’re looking forward to the Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallion Open House on December 10th, from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM, at the Irish Hill Location. This is a great time to see WAR DANCER, chat with staff and enter the raffle for a free season. Belinda Thomas will be on hand to answer questions, discuss your mare and write contracts.
November 1st: It’s been a crazy week for the WAR DANCER team, as we waited to hear whether Dancing Buck made it into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. #1 on the AE list, he came very close until we finally decided to withdraw and point him toward the Aqueduct Turf Sprint this November, in New York. We’re so proud of Dancing Buck, and are thrilled that he came so close to being in a such a prestigious race.
Saturday and Sunday, October 15 & 16 we held an Open House & Stallion Viewing at Sugar Plum Farm. Many folks in town for the Fasig -Tipton sale took the opportunity to come out and see War Dancer, have some chili and chat about their mares. We were pleased to see old friends, and welcome new ones into the WAR DANCER Family.
On Saturday, October 1st, Dancing Buck brought home a Graded Stakes win for his sire, WAR DANCER, winning the G3 Belmont Turf Sprint, by 5 lengths, going wire to wire. As if that wasn’t enough, he also posted the top Beyer at 103.
We’re very proud of WAR DANCER filly, Warsaichi, who won her first Stakes Race in a wire to wire victory at Finger Lakes. Congratulations to the connections !
Did you know That NO WAR DANCER gets left behind? War Dancer LLC management work with every Breeder to make sure that their foal is born healthy and racing sound. If a foal has significant issues, upon receipt of a vet report, we will reduce or waive your stud fee. Just another reason to join the WAR DANCER family.
One of the benefits of breeding to WAR DANCER is that you become part of a group that love horses and racing. We at WAR DANCER LLC recognize that being in the horse business is a lifestyle investment best shared, and we work to create opportunities to get together with our Breeders and friends. in fact, our WAR DANCER SUMMER PARTY is a well known annual event, where old friends and new gather to enjoy a summer evening and meet like-minded people in the business.
WAR DANCER has been spending his summer home, at Sugar Plum Farm, taking a break from his life as a stallion and socializing with his homies. He made a cameo appearance at our War Dancer Summer Party, where he delighted the crowd with his showmanship. Although he’ll soon be returning to Irish Hill and Dutchess Views stallion station to begin to prepare for the 2023 breeding season, he hopes to see you and your mare at the breeding shed !
