Bill Oppenheim, writing for The Thoroughbred Daily News on July 26th about mid-year ABC runners (APEX ratings), had this to say about Girolamo, “... a good sprinter-miler for Godolphin, stood his first two seasons in New York, then moved down to Kentucky, where his third crop are Kentucky-bred 2-year-olds of 2017. No doubt that New York-bred money helps his cause, but he’s done well to tie with Twirling Candy for second among F2013 sires, with 14 ABC Runners this year, and he actually leads Twirling Candy in 2014 A Runners, six to five.”
Tops among his runners this year is the consistent high-class dirt performer Highway Star, a filly from his first crop bred and raced by Chester and Mary Broman. With a record that reflects seven wins in 11 starts, the four-year-old boasts victories in the G2 Ruffian, G3 Go For Wand Handicap and the G3 Distaff Handicap. Most recently, she distinguished herself among the best of her division when placing third to dual champion Songbird in the G1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont.
Foals from his second crop include the three-year-old Crawdaddy (out of the Street Sense mare Rare Edition) who is undefeated in his first two starts while T Loves a Fight got it done in Stakes company over Belmont’s turf course.
Among third crop sires in 2017, Girolamo ranks behind only Uncle Mo and Twirling Candy by number of Black type winners as well as Black type wins.
As mentioned, Girolamo took up stud duties in New York following a successful racing career featuring a win in the G1 Vosburgh. When his first crop began racing in 2015, quickest out of the gate was the precocious She’s All Ready. Out of the El Prado mare Biblionic, She’s All Ready won the Seeking the Ante Stakes in just her second start and then was G1-placed in the Frizette Stakes. Girolamo’s five Stakes horses during his freshman sire season was the third highest of any in his sire crop behind Uncle Mo and Twirling Candy. He was also the third-ranked freshman sire to that pair in 2015 by progeny earnings.
Solid books of mares during the past two breeding seasons position Girolamo for continued success
