Exploit - Undefeated 2 Year Old By Storm Cat

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EXPLOIT
"Undefeated 2 Year Old By Storm Cat"
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Exploit is by the emerging sire of sires Storm Cat. Among the sons of Storm Cat currently standing at stud, Exploit is the only undefeated Graded Stakes winner at two. Being the only undefeated Graded Stakes-Winning two year old on dirt is a remarkable distinction, considering how many outstanding runners Storm Cat has sired.
Bred by John R. Gaines and John Sikura, Exploit sold as a weanling at the Keeneland November Breeding stock sale to Robert and Beverly Lewis for $550,000. The Lewis' offered their $550,000 weanling purchase back up for sale at the Keeneland July yearling sale in 1997, where he brought a final bid of $1,450,000. The Lewis' had placed a $1.5 million reserve on the colt. When the bidding stalled $50,000 shy of their reserve, the auctioneer stopped the bidding and told the Lewis' that he had 'live money at $1,450,000'. Robert Lewis graciously rebuked the bid offer and remarked, 'it would take a million and a half to replace a colt like this so we'll take him home and race him.' The Lewis' entrusted the horse to leading trainer Bob Baffert...and the rest is history.

Racing for the Lewis', Exploit ammassed a record of 5 wins and a second from 6 lifetime starts. After breaking his maiden at Del Mar going five and a half, he followed that win with an impressive win in a 6 furlong allowance race at Santa Anita, going the 6 panels in 1:09 and change. His first stakes appearance came in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs on Breeders' Cup day. His performance in the Iroquois thrust him into the national spotlight. Exploit's race in the Iroquois was awarded a higher Beyer Speed figure than the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Steve Haskin, writing for Daily Racing Form at the time, said that Exploit's fractions in the Iroquois Stakes, suggested that he would have dominated the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, (run on the same track on the same day). The last start of his two year old season was in the Brown and Williamson Kentucky Jockey Club, in which he anhilated the field which included two-time Grade 1 winner Vicar who ran second. His decisive Graded Stakes performances and perfect record as a two year old elicited superlative accolades from the nation's leading turf writers. Legendary Columnist, Joe Hirch, of the Daily Racing Form said, "easily the best two year old I've seen so far is Exploit." Steve Haskin said Exploit was clearly the best two year old of his generation. Andy Beyer, boldly predicted that he would win the 1999 Kentucky Derby. Observations from such renowned writers and handicappers led to odds makers to install Exploit as the Winter Book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Exploit's 3 year old debut came in the Derby prep, the San Vicente (G2). After battling on the lead with Grade 1 winner Yes It's True, Exploit prevailed at the wire running the 7 furlongs in 1:22 flat. His only defeat came while sustaining a career-ending injury in his next start.

An outstanding individual, Exploit is out of My Turbulent Miss, dam of 6 Stakes Winners (two Millionaires) and one stakes horse. Exploit's half-brother Prized, a Grade 1 winner on both dirt and turf, won the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Upon retirement, Exploit's first book of mares had the 2nd-highest Comparable index among first-year sires. His first-crop weanlings sold for an average of $154,000. Exploit's first-crop yearlings which sell this year are garnering rave reviews amongst insiders. Look for progeny of this exciting son of Storm Cat at the upcoming yearling sales.