Northern Afleet (January 23, 1993 - June 1, 2018) was an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is best known as the sire of dual Triple Crown Classic winner Afleet Alex and Breeders' Cup winners World Approval and Amazombie[1]

Northern Afleet
SireAfleet
GrandsireMr. Prospector
DamNuryette
DamsireNureyev
SexStallion
Foaled1993
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederHermitage Farm
OwnerAnderson and Waranch
TrainerDavid E. Hoffmans
Record21: 5-3-5
Earnings$626,671
Major wins
San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (1997)
San Carlos Handicap (1997)
San Diego Handicap (1997)

Background

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Northern Afleet was bred in Kentucky by Hermitage Farm, a small thoroughbred operation. He was sired by Afleet, a Canadian Horse of the Year, and was out of the unraced Nureyev mare, Nuryette. Northern Afleet's half sister, Tap to the Music (by Pleasant Tap) was a multiple graded stakes winner.[2]

He was owned by Gregg Anderson and Ron Waranch, both developers, business partners, and longtime friends.[3] Northern Afleet was trained by David Hofmans.

Racing career

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1995: two-year-old season

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Northern Afleet started three times as a juvenile, winning his debut, and then running second in the Balboa Stakes and seventh in the Del Mar Futurity.[4]

1996: three-year-old season

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He opened his sophomore season with a win in an allowance race. He finished second in his next start, the ungraded Jim Neuman Stakes. He finished fifth in the Oceanside Stakes, and hit the board in his next three starts, including the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.[4]

1997-1998: four- and five-year-old seasons

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Northern Afleet won his first start as an older horse, winning the San Fernando Stakes in his first graded stakes victory. He finished fifth in the Strub Stakes before winning the San Carlos Handicap. He finished third in both what is now known as the Kona Gold Stakes and Metropolitan Handicap. After running fourth in the Triple Bend Handicap, he won the San Diego Handicap in what was the final win of his career. After running third in the Del Mar Handicap, he finished off the board in his last two starts at four, including the 1997 Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished seventh.[4]

As a five-year-old, he made two starts: one in an allowance at Santa Anita Park and another in the Arcadia Handicap, where he finished sixth and fifth respectively.[4]

Stud career

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Overview

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Northern Afleet was retired in 1998 after going winless in two starts for the year. He stood his first years as a stallion at Double Diamond Farm in Florida. From his first crop of foals to race, Northern Afleet sired six stakes winners. In 2004, after showing promise as a stallion, Northern Afleet was bought by Taylor Made Farm and moved to Kentucky, where he was bred to 150 mares.[5]

A year after moving to Kentucky, Northern Afleet's son Afleet Alex won the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, as well as Eclipse Champion 3 Year Old Colt honors, bringing his name more into the public eye.

Northern Afleet has sired 75 blacktype stakes winners, 12 graded stakes winners, 13 Gr.I winners, five champions, and seven earners of over $1 million.[1] As of 2017, Northern Afleet is considered a "value sire", being the only stallion standing in North America standing for under $10,000 to sire a Gr.I winner in seven of the last nine years. Northern Afleet is one of the few stallions to sire a Breeders' Cup Winner, and to have a son sire a Breeders' Cup Winner. His current stud fee is set at $6,500.[6]

Notable Progeny

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Northern Afleet's most notable progeny include:

Death

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Northern Afleet was euthanized on June 1, 2018 due to severe gastrointestinal disease. He had experienced an episode of acute abdominal pain and was taken to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, where veterinarians determined that he had a poor prognosis and subsequently euthanized him.[7]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Northern Afleet, bay horse, foaled January 23, 1993[8]
Sire
Afleet
ch. 1984
Mr. Prospector
b. 1970
Raise a Native
ch. 1961
Native Dancer
Raise You
Gold Digger
b. 1962
Nashua
Sequence
Polite Lady
b. 1977
Venetian Jester
ch. 1964
Tom Fool
Venice
Friendly Ways
b. 1968
Green Ticket
Ways to Learn
Dam
Nuryette
b. 1986
Nureyev
b. 1977
Northern Dancer
b. 1961
Nearctic
Natalma
Special
b. 1969
Forli
Thong
Stellarette
b. 1978
Tentam
dkb/br. 1969
Intentionally
Tamerett
Square Angel
b. 1970
Quadrangle
Nangela (Family 14-c)

Northern Afleet is inbred 4S x 5D to Native Dancer, meaning that Native Dancer appears once in the 4th generation of the sire's side and once in the 5th generation of the dam's side. He is also inbred 4S x 5D to Neartic.

References

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  1. ^ a b "NORTHERN AFLEET – Taylor Made Stallions". Taylor Made Stallions. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  2. ^ Michelson, Miles. "Northern Afleet Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  3. ^ "Amazombie's breeder gone but not forgotten | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  4. ^ a b c d Equibase.com. "Northern Afleet profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  5. ^ "Northern Afleet moves on up to the big time | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  6. ^ "Northern Afleet on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  7. ^ "Northern Afleet Euthanized at Age 25". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  8. ^ "Northern Afleet Pedigree".