Midshipman 2-year-old sails to victory

Among all freshman sires of 2014, only three others have more winners than Midshipman. On the evening of December 18th at Charles Town racetrack in West Virginia, it was the two-year-old colt Big Bad Max who brought to 18 the number of juvenile winners by his sire in winning a maiden special weight event going four and one-half furlongs.

Quickest of 10 out of the gate, Big Bad Max sprinted to the early lead and was two in front as the field reached the quarter mile pole. The second-place finisher was kept at bay throughout the race and never posed a real threat as Big Bad Max drove steadily to a one-length win at the wire.

Bred in West Virginia by Coleswood Farm Inc., Big Bad Max is a half-brother to stakes horses Smart Shot, Somethingabouther and Pin High. His is also the family of the great racemare Wilderness Song, a champion in Canada and winner of the G1 Spinster at Keeneland.

Mishipman currently ranks among the top 10 freshman sires of 2014 in North America and he also ranks among the leaders by overall percentage of winners to foals and winners to starters. In addition to Big Bad Max, Midshipman is represented by the impressive Stakes winner Naval Command, and his other foals have broken their maidens at major tracks in North America, including Belmont, Gulfstream Park, Keeneland, Woodbine and Santa Anita.