First-crop sires 2022: Girvin relocated to Kentucky after making his mark

Girvin achieved success as a freshman sire, ranking fifth among first-crop sires by progeny earnings in 2022 ($1,910,156), and his five stakes winners included Grade 1 conqueror Faiza.

After three seasons at Ocala Stud in Florida, Girvin has been relocated to Aidrie Stud near Midway, Kentucky where he stands for a $25,000 live foal fee in 2023.

Early attention grabbers

Girvin got out of the gate fast, producing Devious Dame, a dominant first-out winner at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby week who followed with a 5 1/4-length romp in the Astoria S. at Belmont Park a month later. The juvenile filly made only one more start before heading to the sidelines, but other precocious two-year-olds picked up the mantle.

Damon’s Mound, a scintillating 12 1/2-length debut winner on the Stephen Foster undercard in early July, pilfered the Saratoga Special (G2) with ease six weeks later, scoring by 3 1/4 lengths. The athletic bay colt faltered when trying two turns during the fall, but Damon’s Mound remains a promising one-turn type for Michelle Lovell.

Pipeline continues

Mister Iceman and U Glow Girl delivered maiden wins at Del Mar and Saratoga, respectively. Atomically graduated by a seven lengths in a Gulfstream Park maiden and then captured the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire series by a 6 3/4-length margin on Oct. 1.

Dorth Vader finished third to Atomically in the My Girl before completing her season with convincing triumphs in the Juvenile Fillies Sprint at Gulfstream and Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Blessed Touch established herself as a filly to watch out west, recording an 8 3/4-length maiden tally at Santa Anita and a runner-up finish in the Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar.

Well-regarded miss

The word was out before Faiza appeared in the entries at Del Mar in mid-November, and the bay lass did not disappoint as the odds-on favorite among seven rivals in a six-furlong maiden special weight, rolling to a daylight win.

Faiza remained unbeaten with a head score at 1-2 odds in the Starlet (G1) at Los Alamitos in mid-December, confirming herself as a top three-year-old filly prospect for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Staying power

Girvin distinguished himself by producing 20 winners from 52 starters from his first crop. He didn’t get the number of mares as well-regarded new sires Bolt d’Oro, Good Magic, Justify, Mendelssohn, and Sharp Azteca, who were all represented by 100+ foals, but his five stakes winners were only one short of the most by a freshman sire in 2022.

A Kentucky-bred son of Tale of the Cat, Girvin earned more than $1.6 million from 10 career starts, recording three graded wins, including the 2017 Haskell (G1), and the nine-year-old stallion is passing along his talent to offspring.