Birdstone and The Cliff's Edge Get First Winners

S.S. Stone and Efficient Edge Win at Hollywood Park and Churchill

Jul 3, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg

In 2004, Birdstone won the Belmont Stakes and The Cliff's Edge scored in the Blue Grass Stakes. Their sons, S.S. Stone and Efficient Edge, got their first wins in June.

From his first crop of 68 two-year-olds, Birdstone, trained by Nick Zito in 2004 when he upset the Triple Crown-bound Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes, got his first winner in S.S. Stone. The Birdstone colt won a maiden special weight event at Hollywood Park on June 29.

On Cushion Track

S.S. Stone's victory came on the synthetic surface Cushion Track in time of 1:03.77 over 5-1/2 furlongs. The colt is under training to Doug O'Neill, and is owned by Robert LaPenta. S.S. Stone represents Birdstone's fifth starter.

Marylou Whitney, who bred Birdstone, also bred S.S. Stone. The colt is out of Sing and Swing, by stakes winner Dixieland Band, and was sold to LaPenta for $135,000 at the 2007 September Keeneland yearling sale. Sing and Swing has produced nine racing foals, all of whom are winners.

Birdstone stands at Antony Beck's Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. His stud fee is $10,000. A half brother to champion Bird Town, Birdstone was sired by Grindstone, the 1996 Kentucky Derby winner. His dam, Dear Birdie, is by Storm Bird, who paired with Secretariat's daughter, Terlingua, to produce the recently pensioned Storm Cat, one of the all-time best modern sires.

Birdstone won five of nine starts, including the Travers Stakes (grade I) in 2004, and the Champagne Stakes (grade I) in 2003. His racing bankroll totalled $1,575,600.

Zito-Trained Winners

Like Birdstone, The Cliff's Edge was trained by Nick Zito. This season, Zito followed his 2004 upset of Smarty Jones in the Belmont with unranked Da' Tara defeating Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown in the third jewel of the triple series. The Cliff's Edge was 2004's Kentucky Derby favorite, but Smarty Jones ended that threat.

Ironically, in the 2004 Derby, both Zito horses threw shoes during the race. The Cliff's Edge finished fifth, while Birdstone went eighth. Big Brown's loose shoe in the Belmont apparently stopped him from racing to the Belmont wire.

Efficient Edge Schooled by Asmussen

Efficient Edge races out of Vinery Stables of Lexington, and is trained by Steve Asmussen, who also schools reigning Horse of the Year Curlin. Edge ran his five furlong maiden at Churchill Downs June 29 in time of 1:00.01 with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard.

The colt is out Efficent Frontier, by Mt. Livermore. The Cliff's Edge produced 71 first crop foals.

The Cliff's Edge won four of 13 starts and earned $1,265,258. He was owned by LaPenta. His racing career ended when he suffered a right front condylar fracture in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (grade 1), where he finished third to Funny Cide.

His second place finishes included the grade II Dwyer Stakes, the grade II Jim Dandy Stakes, and the Travers Stakes behind Birdstone.

Gulch sired The Cliff's Edge. His dam, Zigember, is by Danzig. The Cliff's Edge stands for a fee of $10,000.

The copyright of the article Birdstone and The Cliff's Edge Get First Winners in Horse Racing is owned by BarbaraAnne Helberg. Permission to republish Birdstone and The Cliff's Edge Get First Winners in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.