Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
Pegasus Stud in New Jersey announced on Aug. 9 the acquisition of graded-placed winner Vindictive, who will enter stud in 2024 at the farm owned by the Spinella family.
Vindictive, a 5-year-old son of the champion 2-year-old colt Uncle Mo out of the graded-placed stakes winner Exotic Bloom (by Montbrook), was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and purchased for $200,000 by Solis/Litt Bloodstock at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He would eventually be campaigned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods with trainer Todd Pletcher.
The colt became a winner in his second start at 3, winning a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight at Saratoga Race Course and defeating eventual grade 1 winner Cody's Wish. He would end his sophomore year with a third in the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he earned a 104 Equibase Speed Figure (ESF).
At 4, Vindictive was runner-up by a head in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) to multiple graded stakes winner First Captain. The performance earned him a 106 ESF, which was the fourth triple-digit speed rating of his career. He has been retired with a 4-1-1 record from eight starts and $300,960 in earnings.
"Vindictive is an impressive physical specimen who has both performance and pedigree on his résumé," said Alex Solis II with Solis/Litt. "His four victories from eight starts came in New York against top competition, including a decisive win over Cody's Wish. Vindictive comes from the esteemed Uncle Mo line, known for producing exceptional sires."
Pletcher described Vindictive as "a typical Uncle Mo offspring with great size, mental competitiveness, and definite grade 1 stakes-winning ability."
"He was on the verge of cracking the upper echelon of racing before his career was cut short," he said. "He put in a brilliant effort in winning his final start at Belmont Park earlier this year."
Pletcher has retained lifetime breeding rights in Vindictive along with Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, LNJ Foxwoods, SB Racing, Gatewood Bell, and Jason Litt.
"Vindictive was a talented race horse posting five single-digit Ragozin Sheets numbers in eight career starts," said Rick Sacco, who purchased Vindictive for stallion duties. "He's a stunning, big, and athletic horse by one of the country's best stallions in Uncle Mo."
"The female side of the pedigree is equally powerful," Sacco continued. "His dam, Exotic Bloom, was a stakes winner and she has produced a Breeders' Cup winner. Vindictive is a serious addition to the Pegasus Stud stallion operation and to the state of New Jersey breeding program in general."
Exotic Bloom is also the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat), who includes the 2015 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) among her eight graded stakes victories. The mare's immediate family also includes grade 1 winner Hatchet Man, grade 1-placed stakes winners Van Beethoven and Distorted Legacy, and Illinois Derby (G2) winner and Travers Stakes (G1) runner-up Vision and Verse.