Thousand Words Retired to Spendthrift Farm

Thousand Words, a grade 2 winner at 2 and multiple stakes winner at 3, has been retired from racing and will stand stud in 2021 at B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm in Lexington. The 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile will become the newest stallion to participate in Spendthrift's renowned "Share The Upside" program and is immediately available for inspection by appointment only. Campaigned by Spendthrift and Albaugh Family Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, Thousand Words broke his maiden on debut as a 2-year-old, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.77 at Santa Anita Park. In his second start, the bay colt stretched out around two turns to capture the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos Racecourse, punctuating an undefeated juvenile season. Thousand Words opened his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) at Santa Anita, remaining perfect in three starts. Prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), he defeated Honor A. P. in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar in a final major prep for the Run for the Roses, earning a 104 Beyer and becoming a top-five early choice for the Derby. Honor A. P. went on to finish fourth in the Derby. Thousand Words also made it to Derby Day, but was scratched after flipping in the paddock. Bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm, Thousand Words is out of the multiple grade 2-winning and grade 1-placed Pomeroy mare Pomeroys Pistol, an earner of more than $500,000 on the racetrack. He sold to the Albaugh family and Spendthrift for $1 million at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Brookdale Sales. The sale marked the first ever seven-figure yearling by Pioneerof the Nile. "Thousand Words is a horse we have been high on since the day we partnered with the Albaugh family to buy him at the Keeneland September sale. We believed he was one of the best combinations of pedigree and physical we saw that year, which is why he commanded a million dollars. He was forward from the day he started training in Ocala, and Bob Baffert told us pretty early on that Thousand Words was a Derby horse," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift's general manager. "He was an undefeated Los Al Futurity winner at 2 and beat Honor A. P. in a final Derby prep race at 3. Thousand Words is a terrific package and will greatly complement our stallion roster, especially at his price point. We think breeders are really going to like everything he has to offer as an exciting young stallion prospect." Thousand Words retires with four wins and a second from nine starts, with earnings of $327,500. He finished sixth in his final start, the Dec. 26 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. The Share The Upside fee for Thousand Words will be $10,000 for one year. Additionally, breeders must breed a mare in 2022 on a complimentary basis. After the breeder has a live foal in 2022, pays the stud fee, and breeds a mare back, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2023. For breeders not interested in the Share The Upside program, Thousand Words will be offered for $7,500 on a standard stands and nurses contract. Share The Upside opportunities are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.