Winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby and Classic placed Sandman (by Tapit out of Distorted Music by Distorted Humor) will stand the upcoming breeding season at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, NY, it was announced today. Sandman will stand his initial season at stud for $10,000 S&N. The deal was brokered by Bowling Bloodstock and Ingordo Bloodstock.
“We are always looking for top class stallions to stand in New York,” said Rockridge Stud owner/operator and NYTB President Lere Visagie. “Sandman is a stunning individual, who brought a lot of money as a 2yo and competed at the highest level, being on the Derby trail.”
A $1.2 million March 2yo at Ocala Breeders’ Sales, Sandman broke his maiden just a few months later in a $100k MSW at Saratoga early in the meet the summer of 2024. A few weeks later, he finished 3rd (behind Sovereignty and Tiztastic) in the G3 Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs, followed by a 2nd place finish in the G3 Southwest S. at Oaklawn early the following year. His road to the Kentucky Derby was paved with a tight 3rd in the G2 Rebel (behind Coal Battle and Madaket Road), and was capped off with a decisive win in the G1 Arkansas Derby. Though the tides didn’t roll his way in the KY Derby, two weeks later he finished 3rd in the G1 Preakness behind Journalism and Gosger. His record to date is 14-3-1-3, with earnings of $1,544,531.
“Sandman is an extremely talented and precocious, well minded horse. Any breeder will be thrilled if their foals look like him,” says trainer Mark Casse. St. Elias’ Monique Delk says, “We are delighted to have Sandman in New York to take advantage of the great New York breeding program. As a Grade 1-winning son of the great sire and sire of sires Tapit, we feel like he will be a real standout and a great resource for Empire state breeders. We’re looking forward to sending mares to support him in his new career.”
Sandman will stand as a property of a sold out syndicate including CJ Stable, St. Elias Stable, Wachtel Stable, Gary Barber, and Pantofel Stable. “The best way to market a stallion in New York is to have a base of mare support built into the ownership,” says Rockridge’s Stallion Director Erin Robinson. “We have a formula that has worked very well with Mind Control and Americanrevolution, and we have a fantastic group of breeders put together to support this stallion and get him off the ground running.
For more information on seasons, contact Erin Robinson at (859) 421-7531. Nicking reports are available online now.
