Grindstone (USA)
January 23, 1993 – March 23, 2022
Unbridled (USA) x Buzz My Bell (USA), by Drone (USA)
Family 1-c
January 23, 1993 – March 23, 2022
Unbridled (USA) x Buzz My Bell (USA), by Drone (USA)
Family 1-c
The first racehorse to win both the Louisiana Derby (then USA-G3) and the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) since Black Gold in 1924, Grindstone showed brilliant ability in the spring of 1996 but also proved regrettably fragile. He never raced again after his Kentucky Derby win and was generally disappointing as a stallion, though he did get one runner with ability at least equal to his own in 2004 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) winner Birdstone.
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,224,510
1996:
Honors
Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 18 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
As an individual
A handsome, powerful dark bay or brown horse who according to Fair Grounds oddsmaker Mike Diliberto looked like “a man among boys” in the days leading up to the 1996 Louisiana Derby, Grindstone was taller and leggier than his dam Buzz My Bell. He possessed a powerful finishing kick. He made only two starts at two before chipping an ankle, an injury that put him on the sidelines for the rest of the year. At 3, Grindstone chipped a knee five days after the Kentucky Derby and was forced into retirement. Characterized as a “gentleman” early in his stallion career, he became more testy and aggressive as he aged and had to be handled with caution. According to his second owner, Dr. Root, he was quite intelligent and insisted on people treating him as “the star of the show.” The Oakhurst Equine Farm website gave his height as 15.3 hands.
As a stallion
As of May 31, 2022, Grindstone has sired 346 winners (51.6%) and 18 stakes winners (2.7%) from 671 named foals. He has tended to stamp his progeny with his looks and personality.
Notable progeny
Birdstone (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Curren Black Hill (JPN)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Grindstone was bred and owned by William T. Young’s Overbrook Farm. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby triumph by Jerry Bailey. He entered stud at Overbook Farm in 1997. In 2009, he was purchased privately by Jack Root, D.V.M., in 2009 after Overbrook Farm announced a planned dispersal of its racing and breeding stock. Following his sale, Grindstone transferred to Oakhurst Equine Farm near Newburg, Oregon. He was retired from service as a publicly-available stallion in 2018, though Dr. Root continued breeding some of his own mares to the horse. Grindstone died as a pensioner at Oakhurst on March 23, 2022.
Pedigree notes
A member of the first crop of 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled (who went on to a successful stud career), Grindstone.has a pedigree that is outcrossed within five generations. He is a full brother to Perception, dam of Puerto Rican listed stakes winner Be Welcome (by Toccet). He is a half brother to listed stakes winners Western Territory (by Storm Cat) and Deputy Bodman (by Deputy Minister).
Buzz My Bell, the dam of Grindstone, won the 1983 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) and was a US$2.05 million purchase for Young from the 1985 Keeneland November mixed sale. She is a full sister to Buzzovertomyhouse, dam of listed stakes winners Affair With Aflair (by Well Decorated) and Buzz’s Song (by Unbridled’s Song) and the minor stakes winner Chasing Stars (by Cozzene). Buzz’s Song, in turn, is the dam of 2017 Mexican co-Horse of the Year Jala Jala (by Point Determined) and listed stakes winner Midnight Ballet (by Midnight Lute). Through another daughter, Tattletale (by Quiet American), Buzzovertomyhouse is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Hembree.
Buzz My Bell is out of the stakes-placed Chateaugay mare Chateaupavia, who is a half sister to stakes winners Cyclopavia (by the Pensive horse Cyclotron) and Swift Whisper (by Proud Clarion). Produced from the unraced Pavot mare Glenpavia (a half sister to 1961 Vosburgh Handicap winner Gyro, by Heliopolis), Chateaupvia is also a half sister to La Grue (by Flaneur II), dam of 1971 Belmont Stakes winner Pass Catcher (by All Hands) and third dam of 2001 South Australian Derby (AUS-G1) winner Big Pat and Grade 3 winner Oh My Jessica Pie. In addition, Chateaupavia is also a half sister to Drink'n Be Merry (by Proud Clarion), dam of multiple stakes winner Princess Moran (by Blade).
Books and media
Grindstone is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 31, 2022
Race record
6 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,224,510
1996:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Louisiana Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Arkansas Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn Park)
Honors
Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 2000)
Assessments
Rated at 108 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1995, 18 pounds below co-highweights Maria's Mon (the official divisional champion) and Unbridled's Song.
As an individual
A handsome, powerful dark bay or brown horse who according to Fair Grounds oddsmaker Mike Diliberto looked like “a man among boys” in the days leading up to the 1996 Louisiana Derby, Grindstone was taller and leggier than his dam Buzz My Bell. He possessed a powerful finishing kick. He made only two starts at two before chipping an ankle, an injury that put him on the sidelines for the rest of the year. At 3, Grindstone chipped a knee five days after the Kentucky Derby and was forced into retirement. Characterized as a “gentleman” early in his stallion career, he became more testy and aggressive as he aged and had to be handled with caution. According to his second owner, Dr. Root, he was quite intelligent and insisted on people treating him as “the star of the show.” The Oakhurst Equine Farm website gave his height as 15.3 hands.
As a stallion
As of May 31, 2022, Grindstone has sired 346 winners (51.6%) and 18 stakes winners (2.7%) from 671 named foals. He has tended to stamp his progeny with his looks and personality.
Notable progeny
Birdstone (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Curren Black Hill (JPN)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Grindstone was bred and owned by William T. Young’s Overbrook Farm. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby triumph by Jerry Bailey. He entered stud at Overbook Farm in 1997. In 2009, he was purchased privately by Jack Root, D.V.M., in 2009 after Overbrook Farm announced a planned dispersal of its racing and breeding stock. Following his sale, Grindstone transferred to Oakhurst Equine Farm near Newburg, Oregon. He was retired from service as a publicly-available stallion in 2018, though Dr. Root continued breeding some of his own mares to the horse. Grindstone died as a pensioner at Oakhurst on March 23, 2022.
Pedigree notes
A member of the first crop of 1990 American champion 3-year-old male Unbridled (who went on to a successful stud career), Grindstone.has a pedigree that is outcrossed within five generations. He is a full brother to Perception, dam of Puerto Rican listed stakes winner Be Welcome (by Toccet). He is a half brother to listed stakes winners Western Territory (by Storm Cat) and Deputy Bodman (by Deputy Minister).
Buzz My Bell, the dam of Grindstone, won the 1983 Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1) and was a US$2.05 million purchase for Young from the 1985 Keeneland November mixed sale. She is a full sister to Buzzovertomyhouse, dam of listed stakes winners Affair With Aflair (by Well Decorated) and Buzz’s Song (by Unbridled’s Song) and the minor stakes winner Chasing Stars (by Cozzene). Buzz’s Song, in turn, is the dam of 2017 Mexican co-Horse of the Year Jala Jala (by Point Determined) and listed stakes winner Midnight Ballet (by Midnight Lute). Through another daughter, Tattletale (by Quiet American), Buzzovertomyhouse is the third dam of Grade 2 winner Hembree.
Buzz My Bell is out of the stakes-placed Chateaugay mare Chateaupavia, who is a half sister to stakes winners Cyclopavia (by the Pensive horse Cyclotron) and Swift Whisper (by Proud Clarion). Produced from the unraced Pavot mare Glenpavia (a half sister to 1961 Vosburgh Handicap winner Gyro, by Heliopolis), Chateaupvia is also a half sister to La Grue (by Flaneur II), dam of 1971 Belmont Stakes winner Pass Catcher (by All Hands) and third dam of 2001 South Australian Derby (AUS-G1) winner Big Pat and Grade 3 winner Oh My Jessica Pie. In addition, Chateaupavia is also a half sister to Drink'n Be Merry (by Proud Clarion), dam of multiple stakes winner Princess Moran (by Blade).
Books and media
Grindstone is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- The mating that produced Grindstone occurred because a friend of William Young’s, Kentucky Derby Museum chairman Carl Pollard, had received a donation from the family of Frances A. Genter of a 1992 season to Unbridled as part of a fundraiser for the museum. Pollard asked Young if he was interested in buying the season, and Young bought it for US$30,000 and used it to send Buzz My Bell to Unbridled.
- Grindstone was part of a streak of six consecutive victories in Triple Crown races for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who had previously won the 1994 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) and Belmont Stakes with Tabasco Cat, the 1995 Kentucky Derby and Belmont with Thunder Gulch, and (in between Thunder Gulch’s victories) the 1995 Preakness with Timber Country. The streak ended when Nick Zito-trained Louis Quatorze won the 1996 Preakness.
- With five previous starts under his belt, Grindstone was the most lightly raced Kentucky Derby winner since 1933, when Brokers Tip won the Derby in his fifth lifetime start.
- Grindstone was the first Kentucky Derby winner to stand in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
- Early in his stud career, Grindstone developed an aversion to wearing halters and would quickly find a way to get out of one if his caretakers managed to slip one on him. The lack of a halter made him difficult to catch in his paddock, but after Overbrook Farm stallion manager Wes Lanter discovered that the horse loved bananas, the problem of catching him was solved.
- Grindstone was the first of two Kentucky Derby winners to make his home at Oakhurst Equine Farm. The other is 2005 Derby winner Giacomo, who arrived in Oregon in 2015 on a three-year lease and is still at stud at Oakhurst as of 2021.
Last updated: May 31, 2022