Vindication (USA)
January 28, 2000 – July 10, 2008
Seattle Slew (USA) x Strawberry Reason (USA), by Strawberry Road (AUS)
Family 1-s
January 28, 2000 – July 10, 2008
Seattle Slew (USA) x Strawberry Reason (USA), by Strawberry Road (AUS)
Family 1-s
Bred to be a stayer, Vindication began showing top form over longer distances as a juvenile and won a championship with a strong performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1). High hopes for his 3-year-old season were dashed when he suffered a career-ending tendon injury while in training for his first start of the season. His stud career was also brief as he died when only 8. He was more effective as a sire of broodmares than of runners.
Race record
4 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$680,950
2002:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2002)
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2002, 2 pounds above second-rated Toccet.
As an individual
A lengthy, powerful dark bay or brown horse, Vindication was rather light-framed for his size and had suspicious ankles. He stood 16.1 hands.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Vindication sired 303 winners (62.2%) and 20 stakes winners (4.1%) from 487 foals of racing age. His best runners were Grade 2 winners Broadway’s Alibi and Dust and Diamonds.
Notable progeny of daughters
Do Deuce (JPN), Elite Power (USA), Hard Not to Love (CAN), Wonder Gadot (CAN), Yaupon (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Vindication was bred by Virginia Kraft Payson’s Payson Stud. He was owned by Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables, which bought him from the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale for US$2.15 million. He was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile triumph by Mike Smith. He entered stud at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in 2004 and was euthanized there due to a gastric rupture in 2008.
Pedigree notes
Vindication is inbred 4x3 to 1960 American champion 2-year-old male and 1970 American champion sire Hail to Reason. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, who also led the English/Irish combined sire list in 1951. He is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Scipion (by A.P. Indy) and to Grade 3-placed stakes winner In Step (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of juvenile Grade 2 winner Hemsworth (by Bernardini). Vindication is also a half brother to Berry Blessed (by St. Jovite), dam of stakes winner Shem (by Stormin Fever), and to Queenie Cat (by Storm Cat), dam of restricted stakes winner Bella Vita (by Bayern). In addition, Vindication is a half sister to Strawberry Sense (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 3 winner Prime Attraction (by Unbridled’s Song) and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Kathy’s Song (by Candy Ride).
Vindication is out of 1995 Martha Washington Stakes (USA-G3) winner Strawberry Reason, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Silver Comet (by Flip Sal). Strawberry Reason, in turn, is out of the unraced Hail to Reason mare Pretty Reason, whose dam Mysore (by the stakes-placed Nasrullah horse Amarullah) is an unraced half sister to 1965 Jim Dandy Stakes winner and good sire Cornish Prince (by Bold Ruler). The next dam in Vindication’s tail-female line is stakes-placed Tellaris (by Eight Thirty), a full sister to 1957 Valley Forge Handicap winner Tellarian and a half sister to 1964 Seminole Handicap winner Top Gallant (by Gallant Man).
Books and media
Footage of Vindication’s win in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOflrU4AbRo.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 9, 2025
Race record
4 starts, 4 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$680,950
2002:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Turfway Park)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male (2002)
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2002, 2 pounds above second-rated Toccet.
As an individual
A lengthy, powerful dark bay or brown horse, Vindication was rather light-framed for his size and had suspicious ankles. He stood 16.1 hands.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Vindication sired 303 winners (62.2%) and 20 stakes winners (4.1%) from 487 foals of racing age. His best runners were Grade 2 winners Broadway’s Alibi and Dust and Diamonds.
Notable progeny of daughters
Do Deuce (JPN), Elite Power (USA), Hard Not to Love (CAN), Wonder Gadot (CAN), Yaupon (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Vindication was bred by Virginia Kraft Payson’s Payson Stud. He was owned by Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables, which bought him from the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale for US$2.15 million. He was trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Juvenile triumph by Mike Smith. He entered stud at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in 2004 and was euthanized there due to a gastric rupture in 2008.
Pedigree notes
Vindication is inbred 4x3 to 1960 American champion 2-year-old male and 1970 American champion sire Hail to Reason. He is also inbred 5x5x5 to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, who also led the English/Irish combined sire list in 1951. He is a half brother to Grade 3 winner Scipion (by A.P. Indy) and to Grade 3-placed stakes winner In Step (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of juvenile Grade 2 winner Hemsworth (by Bernardini). Vindication is also a half brother to Berry Blessed (by St. Jovite), dam of stakes winner Shem (by Stormin Fever), and to Queenie Cat (by Storm Cat), dam of restricted stakes winner Bella Vita (by Bayern). In addition, Vindication is a half sister to Strawberry Sense (by A.P. Indy), dam of Grade 3 winner Prime Attraction (by Unbridled’s Song) and Grade 1-placed stakes winner Kathy’s Song (by Candy Ride).
Vindication is out of 1995 Martha Washington Stakes (USA-G3) winner Strawberry Reason, a half sister to Grade 3 winner Silver Comet (by Flip Sal). Strawberry Reason, in turn, is out of the unraced Hail to Reason mare Pretty Reason, whose dam Mysore (by the stakes-placed Nasrullah horse Amarullah) is an unraced half sister to 1965 Jim Dandy Stakes winner and good sire Cornish Prince (by Bold Ruler). The next dam in Vindication’s tail-female line is stakes-placed Tellaris (by Eight Thirty), a full sister to 1957 Valley Forge Handicap winner Tellarian and a half sister to 1964 Seminole Handicap winner Top Gallant (by Gallant Man).
Books and media
Footage of Vindication’s win in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOflrU4AbRo.
Fun facts
- When Satish Sanan purchased Vindication at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, he had his daughter Nadia conduct his bidding from the price-board operator’s booth in the balcony, where she could not be seen by other bidders.
- Vindication’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile was the only one carded over 9 furlongs, a change from the usual 8½ furlongs made due to Arlington Park’s configuration.
Photo credit
Photo portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Hill 'n' Dale Farms in 2008. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 9, 2025