Epicenter (USA)
January 29, 2019 – Living
Not This Time (USA) x Silent Candy (USA), by Candy Ride (ARG)
Family 21-a
January 29, 2019 – Living
Not This Time (USA) x Silent Candy (USA), by Candy Ride (ARG)
Family 21-a
Epicenter was not always the most fortunate of runners, but in 2022, he was the most consistent 3-year-old colt of his year and decisively defeated the best of his rivals in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (USA-G1). He was injured while running in the 2022 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) and was forced into retirement.
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,940,639
2021:
2022:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2022)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year) but best among 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual:
A well-balanced, powerful bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Epicenter had a versatile running style and could be placed as circumstances and his jockey dictated. He suffered a fracture in his right foreleg during the running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, ending his racing career. His intelligence and adaptability helped him recover from what could have been a life-threatening injury as he moved through surgery and recovery from his leg fracture.
As a stallion
Epicenter entered stud in 2023. His first foal, a filly out of stakes-placed Peaceful (by Declaration of War), was born on January 13, 2024, at Twin Creeks Farm.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Epicenter was bred by Westwind Farms. He was owned by Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, which purchased the colt for US$260,000 from the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Steve Asmussen. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2023 at Ashford Stud.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2016 Iroquois Stakes (USA-G3) winner Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway), Epicenter is inbred 5x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time French champion Blushing Groom, also rated the best miler in Europe and England in 1977 and the English/Irish champion sire of 1989. He is out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Silent Candy, whose dam Silent Queen (by 2001 Two Thousand Guineas, ENG-G1, winner King of Kings) is a winning half sister to multiple listed stakes winner Test Boy (by Brahms).
Silent Queen, in turn, is out of Soundproof (by 1980 English and French champion older male Ela-Mana-Mou), a winning half sister to Italian listed stakes winner Record Sound (by Dance of Life). Soundproof is also a half sister to Sound Beauty (by Be My Guest), dam of multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Taiki Herakles (by Ibn Bey). Their dam Hobe Sound is a winning daughter of 1967 English Horse of the Year Busted and the unraced Habitat mare Tanella, a half sister to 1977 Ribbesdale Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Nanticious (by Northfields) and to stakes winner Repetitious (by Northfields).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Epicenter’s win in the 2022 Travers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiz-G7VtGr0.
Fun facts
Last updated: June 17, 2016
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,940,639
2021:
- Won Gun Runner Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
2022:
- Won Runhappy Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (USA-G2, 9.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Risen Star Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Lecomte Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2022)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, 15 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year) but best among 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual:
A well-balanced, powerful bay horse standing 16.2 hands, Epicenter had a versatile running style and could be placed as circumstances and his jockey dictated. He suffered a fracture in his right foreleg during the running of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, ending his racing career. His intelligence and adaptability helped him recover from what could have been a life-threatening injury as he moved through surgery and recovery from his leg fracture.
As a stallion
Epicenter entered stud in 2023. His first foal, a filly out of stakes-placed Peaceful (by Declaration of War), was born on January 13, 2024, at Twin Creeks Farm.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Epicenter was bred by Westwind Farms. He was owned by Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, which purchased the colt for US$260,000 from the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Steve Asmussen. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2023 at Ashford Stud.
Pedigree notes
Sired by 2016 Iroquois Stakes (USA-G3) winner Not This Time (by Giant's Causeway), Epicenter is inbred 5x5 to the breed-shaping sire Northern Dancer, the 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and American champion 3-year-old male. He is also inbred 5x5 to two-time French champion Blushing Groom, also rated the best miler in Europe and England in 1977 and the English/Irish champion sire of 1989. He is out of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Silent Candy, whose dam Silent Queen (by 2001 Two Thousand Guineas, ENG-G1, winner King of Kings) is a winning half sister to multiple listed stakes winner Test Boy (by Brahms).
Silent Queen, in turn, is out of Soundproof (by 1980 English and French champion older male Ela-Mana-Mou), a winning half sister to Italian listed stakes winner Record Sound (by Dance of Life). Soundproof is also a half sister to Sound Beauty (by Be My Guest), dam of multiple Japanese listed stakes winner Taiki Herakles (by Ibn Bey). Their dam Hobe Sound is a winning daughter of 1967 English Horse of the Year Busted and the unraced Habitat mare Tanella, a half sister to 1977 Ribbesdale Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Nanticious (by Northfields) and to stakes winner Repetitious (by Northfields).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Epicenter’s win in the 2022 Travers Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiz-G7VtGr0.
Fun facts
- An epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface vertically above the central point of an earthquake. By extension, it refers to the central point of any situation, particularly one that is difficult or unpleasant.
Last updated: June 17, 2016