NEWS
Going Ballistic retires to Victory Rose Thoroughbreds
Posted: Thursday, February 02, 2012 9:18 AM
Edited press release
Going Ballistic, winner of the 2007 Super Derby (G2) and $1,195,567 in earnings, will begin his stud career in 2012 at Ellen Jackson’s Victory Rose Thoroughbreds in Vacaville, California.
In a deal brokered by Robert Knolhoff Jr. and Dr. Staci A. Speidel, the eight-year-old son of Lite The Fuse will stand at Victory Rose for $3,000 live foal. Mike Kindred, who campaigned Going Ballistic in the name of Kindred Thoroughbreds LLC, will remain majority partner and support the stallion with mares of his own.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Going Ballistic as the newest addition to Victory Rose’s stallion roster,” Jackson said. “He displayed class throughout a long career and won or placed in a number of important races. He’s a distinguished, eye-catching individual and his pedigree is a total outcross. What’s not to like?”
Trained by Donnie Von Hemel over a 46-race career, Going Ballistic graduated by his third career start and was a stakes winner his subsequent start. He capped a seven-race juvenile season by finishing fourth behind Tiz Wonderful in the 2006 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
The durable campaigner enjoyed his most lucrative season as a three-year-old, earning $690,140 from 11 starts. In his signature performance, Going Ballistic won the $515,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs from 3-to-10 favorite and Travers Stakes (G1) runner-up Grasshopper with a dramatic late rally. In his next start, the stretch-running gray came from 11th and last to land Remington Park’s $300,000 Centennial Oklahoma Derby by 3 1/4 lengths.
A capable grass performer as well, Going Ballistic won the 2007 Pin Oak Stud USA Stakes at Lone Star Park, the same course which he earned his first career victory. He later finished a close second in the American Derby (G2), then finished third in the Secretariat Stakes (G1) ahead of his two big autumn triumphs.
Victorious in six added money contests overall, Going Ballistic placed fourth or better in at least one graded stakes each year from ages two through six.
Bred in Florida by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs, which was recently awarded its seventh Eclipse Award as the outstanding breeder, Going Ballistic is out of the Holy Bull mare Holy Lightning. Lite The Fuse, sire of more than 20 stakes winners, was a two-time winner himself of the Carter Handicap (G1) and twice runner-up in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
“We previously stood For Really, who like Lite The Fuse is a son of Buckaroo, so I’m familiar with the virtues of the sire line,” Jackson said. “I believe California breeders will quickly come to appreciate all that a horse like Going Ballistic offers to our state program.”
