Aloha West Retired, to Stand at Mill Ridge for $10,000
By: Molly Rollins and Joe Perez BloodHorse
Aloha West , the thrilling winner of the 2021 Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), has been retired from racing and will stand at Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington for $10,000.
The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun will be available for inspection at Mill Ridge at 2 p.m. daily from Nov. 14 through the rest of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, which ends Nov. 16.
Campaigned for the majority of his career by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and trainer Wayne Catalano, Aloha West capped his career in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland, where he finished last of 11. Prior to that effort, he captured the Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes in July at Churchill Downs after beginning his 4-year-old season with a third-place showing in the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford (G1) and fourth behind superstar Flightline when stretching out in trip in the Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
Last year, ahead of his Breeders’ Cup Sprint triumph, Aloha West burst onto the divisional scene with a late-running neck defeat to Special Reserve in the Stoll Keenan Phoenix Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
A $160,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling, the bay’s success was no surprise to Catalano, who remarked to Eclipse Thoroughbreds president and founder Aron Wellman before the 2021 Sprint that Aloha West “might be the best horse I’ve ever had my hands on.”
In the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Aloha West was able to edge multiple grade 1 winner Dr. Schivel by a nose. Aloha West, with Jose Ortiz in the irons, trailed most of the nine-horse field for the majority of the race. As the pair made their way around the final turn back in sixth, Ortiz took Aloha West five wide. With a gutsy closing move, he surged past the likes of eventual 2021 Champion Male Sprinter Jackie’s Warrior and Special Reserve for the victory.
Aloha West retires with a record of 6-2-1 from 13 starts and $1,507,290 in earnings.
“This horse has the potential to be a great stallion, as he had two key ingredients, speed and heart. And, he is beautiful,” Catalano said.
Bred by Robert T. Manfuso & Katharine M. Voss in Maryland, where he was named the state’s champion sprinter in 2021, Aloha West is out of the grade 3-winning Speightstown mare Island Bound. His dam, who earned more than $277,000 on the track, has four winners from five starters.
“This past week we have been syndicating Aloha West and have a foundation group of breeders participating,” said Mill Ridge general manager Price Bell. “He is an exciting stallion prospect to join Oscar Performance as he has speed, pedigree blend, great looks, and good price point. Eclipse is a terrific partner, and we look forward to the future for Aloha West and his stallion career. He will reside in the stall of his maternal grandsire, Gone West.”