Preakness winner Early Voting to Ashford

Klaravich Stables’ Classic winner Early Voting has been retired from racing and will stand at Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud for 2023. The son of Gun Runner, out of a Tiznow half-sister to Speightstown made each of his first three starts at Aqueduct, winning a 2YO Maiden Special Weight and the G3 Withers Stakes before going down by just a neck to Mo Donegal in the G2 Wood Memorial Stakes. Despite having the required points for the Kentucky Derby he bypassed it and went straight for the G1 Preakness Stakes on owner Seth Klarman’s birthday where he defeated Epicenter to record a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

“Early Voting was an outstanding physical specimen as a yearling,” enthused purchaser Mike Ryan. “He had size, strength, scope, substance and tremendous quality. It is very easy to be impressed by him, he has all the credentials to become a successful stallion and I am very confident that breeders will love him.”

“Early Voting identified himself very early in his initial training as one of our top colts in his crop,” said trainer Chad Brown. “He has tremendous gate speed for a horse his size and incredible stamina to compliment it. His performance in the Preakness confirms his talent as one of the best in this talented division.”

“We’re delighted to be standing Classic winner Early Voting,” said Ashford’s Dermot Ryan. “He’s a very good-looking son of a remarkable sire in Gun Runner - with an incredible six Grade 1 winners from his first crop - and he’s out of a half-sister to the sire of our own Munnings.”

A fee for Early Voting will be announced at a later date.