Birdstone (USA)
May 16, 2001 – Living
Grindstone (USA) x Dear Birdie (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 8-f
May 16, 2001 – Living
Grindstone (USA) x Dear Birdie (USA), by Storm Bird (CAN)
Family 8-f
Best known as the spoiler in Smarty Jones’s 2004 American Triple Crown bid, Birdstone was a hit-or-miss runner who either won or went home with nothing to show for it. Good enough to collect three Grade 1 wins in nine starts, he was handicapped at stud prospect by his rather unimpressive appearance and his reputation for being something of a plodder but did manage to sire 2009 American champion 3-year-old male Summer Bird and 2009 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Mine That Bird in his first crop before tailing off.
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$1,575,600
2003:
2004:
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2004)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, 8 pounds below the 128-pound rating assigned to Smarty Jones’ Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) performance (which topped all 3-year-olds of 2004) and 10 pounds below Ghostzapper’s world-topping performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1).
As an individual
A bay horse standing 15.3 hands, Birdstone is plain and short-necked but has good legs and a friendly disposition. He did not handle off going well. As a racer, he was a determined grinder. He retired from racing after coming out of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic with an ankle chip in his left foreleg.
As a stallion
As of October 29, 2024, Birdstone has sired 361 winners (54.4%) and 25 stakes winners (3.8%) from 664 foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Birdie Gold (USA), Mine That Bird (USA), Noble Bird (USA), Summer Bird (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, Birdstone was bred and owned by Marylou Whitney. He was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes score by Edgar Prado. He entered stud in 2005 at Gainesway Farm, where he stood throughout his stud career. He was officially pensioned on August 28, 2020, and was moved to the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1996 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Grindstone, Birdstone is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 2003 American champion 3-year-old filly Bird Town (by Cape Town), dam of Grade 2 winner Bird Song (by Unbridled’s Song). He is also a half brother to Dearest Gulch (by Gulch), third dam of Grade 3 winner Dear Birdie.
Birdstone was produced from Dear Birdie, the 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A half sister to listed stakes winner Noactor (by Theatrical), she is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Hush Dear (by Silent Screen), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Plains and Simple (by Twist the Axe). Hush Dear is also a half sister to Go South (by Jean-Pierre), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Silvino (by Our Native), and to Tommy’s Date (by Tom Rolfe), whose granddaughter Swing By was champion 3-year-old filly in Jamaica in 2006 and Horse of the Year in Trinidad in 2007.
Hush Dear and her sisters are out of 1971 Ashland Stakes winner You All (by Nashua), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shoo Dear (dam of listed stakes winner Leprechauns Wish, by Lyphard’s Wish) and a half sister to Hail Hail (by Hail to Reason), dam of French Group 3 winner Reason to Trick (by Clever Trick) and juvenile stakes winner Madame Premier (by Raja Baba; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Northern Premier, by Northern Baby). Also a half sister to Snow the Judge (by Court Recess), dam of listed stakes winner Bharal (by Forceten), You All is out of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear, by Counterpoint.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s video of Birdstone’s 2004 Belmont Stakes victory can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gAeTic_9Bo.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway Farm in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 29, 2024
Race record
9 starts, 5 wins, 0 seconds, 1 third, US$1,575,600
2003:
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
2004:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
Honors
Eclipse Award finalist, American champion 3-year-old male (2004)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2004 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings for his performances in the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, 8 pounds below the 128-pound rating assigned to Smarty Jones’ Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) performance (which topped all 3-year-olds of 2004) and 10 pounds below Ghostzapper’s world-topping performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1).
As an individual
A bay horse standing 15.3 hands, Birdstone is plain and short-necked but has good legs and a friendly disposition. He did not handle off going well. As a racer, he was a determined grinder. He retired from racing after coming out of the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic with an ankle chip in his left foreleg.
As a stallion
As of October 29, 2024, Birdstone has sired 361 winners (54.4%) and 25 stakes winners (3.8%) from 664 foals of racing age.
Notable progeny
Birdie Gold (USA), Mine That Bird (USA), Noble Bird (USA), Summer Bird (USA)
Connections
Foaled at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, Birdstone was bred and owned by Marylou Whitney. He was trained by Nick Zito and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes score by Edgar Prado. He entered stud in 2005 at Gainesway Farm, where he stood throughout his stud career. He was officially pensioned on August 28, 2020, and was moved to the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 1996 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Grindstone, Birdstone is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 2003 American champion 3-year-old filly Bird Town (by Cape Town), dam of Grade 2 winner Bird Song (by Unbridled’s Song). He is also a half brother to Dearest Gulch (by Gulch), third dam of Grade 3 winner Dear Birdie.
Birdstone was produced from Dear Birdie, the 2004 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year. A half sister to listed stakes winner Noactor (by Theatrical), she is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Hush Dear (by Silent Screen), a half sister to multiple stakes winner Plains and Simple (by Twist the Axe). Hush Dear is also a half sister to Go South (by Jean-Pierre), dam of Group 1-placed listed stakes winner Silvino (by Our Native), and to Tommy’s Date (by Tom Rolfe), whose granddaughter Swing By was champion 3-year-old filly in Jamaica in 2006 and Horse of the Year in Trinidad in 2007.
Hush Dear and her sisters are out of 1971 Ashland Stakes winner You All (by Nashua), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner Shoo Dear (dam of listed stakes winner Leprechauns Wish, by Lyphard’s Wish) and a half sister to Hail Hail (by Hail to Reason), dam of French Group 3 winner Reason to Trick (by Clever Trick) and juvenile stakes winner Madame Premier (by Raja Baba; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Northern Premier, by Northern Baby). Also a half sister to Snow the Judge (by Court Recess), dam of listed stakes winner Bharal (by Forceten), You All is out of 1962 New York Handicap winner Honey Dear, by Counterpoint.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s video of Birdstone’s 2004 Belmont Stakes victory can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gAeTic_9Bo.
Fun facts
- The New York Racing Association named a stakes race after Birdstone. It was most recently run at Saratoga in 2020 and was contested as a 14-furlong race on the main track for horses 4 years old and older.
- Birdstones are artifacts resembling abstract birds with a pair of conical holes drilled diagonally through the base. Created by Native Americans of the eastern United States, eastern Canada, and some portions of the Great Plains, they are believed to have been used as weights for balancing darts or spears.
- The NYRA’s video of the Travers Stakes features a notable blooper. As Birdstone crosses the finish line, the track announcer can be heard saying, “And Birdstone has won the 135th Belmont Stakes!”
- Following Birdstone’s Belmont Stakes win, both Marylou Whitney and Nick Zito apologized profusely for their colt’s spoiling a Smarty Jones Triple Crown sweep.
- Birdstone was Edgar Prado’s second Belmont Stakes winner and the second time the jockey had been aboard a longshot Triple Crown spoiler. His first such ride was aboard Sarava, who left Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem laboring up the track when he won the 2002 Belmont.
- The National Thoroughbred Racing Association named Birdstone's Belmont upset of Smarty Jones as its "Moment of the Year" for 2004.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway Farm in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 29, 2024