One of only three horses to score a Mass ’Cap – Suburban double, Grade One winner Offlee Wild had a penchant for battling and showed little mercy when gaining an advantage over his rivals. Victorious in each of his four competitive seasons, the ruggedly handsome, near-black son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Wild Again overcame fateful twists in his career to be one of the most respected handicap horses of his day. With great anticipation, his first crop will debut in 2009.
In the breeding shed, Offlee Wild’s preliminary court included some divine mares – Stakes winners St Clair Ridge, Tioga, and California Style among them. The outlook for Offlee Wild’s juveniles is indeed promising, given that 46 of his mates were two-year-old winners and/or dams of two-year-old winners and no fewer than 35 were either Stakes winners or black-type producers. A precocious juvenile himself, Offlee Wild’s first taste of victory was a five-length gambol in a sprint at Churchill Downs.
It was around two-turns that Offlee Wild achieved his own best stride. He scored a 99 Beyer in his first test going long – also his first Stakes race. He prevailed after being bumped early and engaging in a spirited duel with Powerful Touch to take the Holy Bull S. It marked the first of three meetings with the previously undefeated Funny Cide – and a prelude to greater triumphs. The two exchanged glances yet again at four in the G2 Massachusetts Handicap, and at five in the G1 Suburban – all to the advantage of Offlee Wild over the Derby/Preakness/JC Gold Cup winner. In so doing, Offlee Wild scored a 110 Beyer speed figure and earned a Timeform rating of 120.
Looking to a bright future is a pair of exciting Offlee Wild juveniles that passed under the hammer last summer. The three-quarter brother to millionaire Wild Desert (Wild Rush) fetched $175,000. Wild Desert captured Canada’s prestigious Queen’s Plate and was runner-up to Horse of the Year Invasor in the G1 Suburban H. The other currently unnamed colt impressed bidders to the tune of $190,000. He is out of a half-sister to multiple Grade One winner New Real Deal and shares a common ancestry with Kentucky Derby hero Monarchos in the good producer Regal Road (Graustark). Japanese champion Air Shakur (Sunday Silence) and Offlee Wild also hail from this matriarchal family. Regal Road is a sister in blood to Offlee Wild’s second dam Andover Way, a daughter of His Majesty - Graustark’s full-brother. Andover Way produced a treble of black-type earners including prominent sire Dynaformer. Two-year-old Tremendamente Loca is a daughter of Offlee Wild out of Monarchos’ half-sister Montaraz (Numerous).
A handful of juveniles are the result of the enthusiastic support of Offlee Wild’s previous owner Lansdon Robbins III. Preparing to join his racing stable is Offlee Cool, a half-sister to Robbins and Tom Hansen’s home-bred Dagnabit, the 2008 Tremont and Aspirant Stakes winner. They’re out of the Silver Ghost mare Cool Ghoul, a half-sister to Florida Champion two-year-old colt Comeonemom, both daughters of G1 Gazelle H. winner Single Blade.
Also prepping for Robbins is Wildlee Special, a colt out of Special Tapestry (Theatrical) who derives from the nobility of the late Allen Paulson’s influential Brookside Farm breeding stock. The colt’s third dam is My Charmer, a mare that reached immortality by producing transatlantic classic winners Seattle Slew and Lomond. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew is the broodmare sire of Offlee Wild as well as Horse of the Year Cigar.
Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt bred thirteen mares to Offlee Wild in his first season and their patronage has been well-rewarded. Their homebred colt Heavenville now enjoys the distinction of being the young sire's first runner and first winner after scoring at Keeneland on his debut on 9 April. Most of the two-year-olds are currently taking their early lessons at Ted Keefer’s Magnolia, TX facility and will join the racing teams of Eclipse Award-winning trainer Steve Asmussen and Dale Romans by summer. Offlee Wild is shining through the hardy group of youngsters, both in size and durability. They are reportedly showing great promise in their workmanlike approach to training and their mental stability.
Already the three-quarter brother to a Listed winner, the colt named Herecomesdegrouse carries with him the hope and momentum of his superlative relative Zenyatta. Street Cry’s undefeated champion branches from the colt’s fourth dam Mrs. Peterkin. She is also the grand-dam to nine major winners including champion Shareef Dancer and Mizzen Mast.
The overall consensus is that Offlee Wild will make an impact on the Freshman Sires’ List well into the fall racing season, most especially when his offspring have the opportunity to stretch out. He holds true value at the modest 2009 fee of $7,500.
