by Jeff Lowe
Prominent Central Kentucky stallion Crafty Prospector has been pensioned from stud duty at age 28.
The Florida-bred by Mr. Prospector out of Real Crafty Lady, by In Reality, stood 16 seasons at Brookdale Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, after beginning his career in Florida. He covered 33 mares in 2006 while standing for a private fee.
Crafty Prospector is the sire of 89 stakes winners, including Agnes Digital, a Japanese champion who earned more than $8-million.
“[A]lthough in excellent health, the time has come to retire Crafty Prospector from breeding,” said Fred Seitz, Brookdale owner and manager of the syndicate that stood Crafty Prospector. “Although his retirement comes with sadness, we are all happy that the horse maintains such good health and vigor and can hopefully look forward to a long, contented retirement.”
Crafty Prospector finished fifth on the general sire list in 1997, a year in which his daughter, Miss Golden Circle, won three graded stakes and his son Crafty Friend equaled a track record at Hollywood Park by completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.12.
Crafty Prospector also sired Crafty Shaw, a nine-time stakes winner who earned more than $1-million and now stands at Buck Pond Farm in Versailles; Grade 2 winner and California stallion Crafty C. T.; and multiple graded stakes winner and first-year Pennsylvania stallion Pies Prospect.
Agnes Digital was Japan’s champion older horse in 2001, when he won the Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) and two races with Group 1 status in Japan. A nine-time stakes winner, Agnes Digital stands at Big Red Farm on the island of Hokkaido.
In 21 crops of racing age, Crafty Prospector sired 710 winners, including 28 group or graded stakes winners, from 895 starters who earned $88,110,136 through March 14.
Bred by Milofran Inc., Crafty Prospector scored wins at six furlongs, seven furlongs, and 1 1/16 miles while compiling seven wins in ten career starts for owner Toral Stable and trainer James Iselin. He never finished off the board, including a second-place finish by a neck to Christmas Past in the 1983 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) at 1 1/4 miles.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer