Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner More Than Looks has been retired from racing and will stand at Lane's End in 2025 for $15,000 LFSN.
The 4-year-old son of More Than Ready, campaigned by Victory Racing Partners, broke his maiden on second asking in an $84,000 Gulfstream Park maiden special weight at 3. After his win in a $127,000 allowance at Ellis Park, he would compete exclusively at the stakes level. His first black-type start was a victory in the Manila Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park over a deep field consisting entirely of graded stakes winners and stakes winners. He followed with a third in the National Museum Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2T), behind eventual grade 1 winner Carl Spackler. More Than Looks followed that race up with a win in the $200,000 Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs by 2 3/4 lengths. He earned the first of his four triple-digit Beyers— a 101 in this win.
Returning to the races at 4, More Than Looks' first two starts of 2024 were game second-place finishes in the Fourstardave Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course and the Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland. Those races set him up perfectly for the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), where he defeated a competitive international field consisting of eight grade 1 winners. The Breeders' Cup victory produced his highest career Beyer speed figure (105) and brought his earnings to $1,870,715.
"He's an eye-catching horse that showed elite ability from day one," said trainer Cherie DeVaux. "His explosive turn of foot and competitive nature led to consistency at the highest level, and ultimately resulted in him becoming a Breeders' Cup champion."
Bred by Hinkle Farms, More Than Looks hails from the female family of multiple grade 1 winner Critical Eye. His black-type winning dam is Ladies' Privilege, a $575,000 Keeneland November purchase, by Harlan's Holiday. She is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Takeover Target.
More Than Looks' sire, More Than Ready, is the co-leading sire of Breeders' Cup winners and wins, with seven individual winners accumulating eight wins. An international success, More Than Ready has sired nearly 120 black-type winners, almost 50 graded stakes winners, and 13 grade 1 winners.
More Than Looks is available for inspection. Please contact Chris Knehr (cknehr@lanesend.com) or Jill McCully (jillmac@lanesend.com) to set up an appointment or for more information.
