Pulpit (horse)

Pulpit (February 15, 1994 – December 6, 2012) was an American Thoroughbred stallion who stood at stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky for a fee of $60,000 per live foal up until his death in late 2012.

His sire was the 1992 Eclipse Award winner for American Horse of the Year and American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse A.P. Indy. His dam was the Grade 1-winning race mare Preach. Pulpit died on December 6, 2012 at the age of 18 at Claiborne Farm. He had shown no signs of illness or injury prior to his death.^[1][2][3]

Racing career

Pulpit was unraced as a two-year-old. He made his first start in January 1997, his three-year-old year. He immediately made an impact by winning his first three starts, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

After finishing second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, Pulpit dominated his next start, the $700,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky. With Shane Sellers aboard, Pulpit drew clear down the stretch and finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of Acceptable. The race solidified his status as a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender.^[4]

Running in the 1997 Kentucky Derby, Pulpit finished fourth behind Silver Charm, Captain Bodgit and Free House. He suffered an injury to his left hind leg during the race and was retired to stud duty shortly thereafter.

Stud career

Much like his sire, A.P. Indy, Pulpit proved to be a very successful stallion. As of September 4, 2013, he had produced 861 foals of racing age, with 672 of those starting races and 470 winning. His foals have earned more than $60 million.^[5] Pulpit also has the distinction of being the grandsire of the 2014 Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable, 2014 Kentucky Derby and 2014 Preakness winner California Chrome and 2014 Belmont winner Tonalist.

Among his progeny are several graded stakes winners, including:

• Corinthian
• Essence of Dubai
• Ice Box
• Lydgate
• Laity
• Melohr Ahinda
• Purge
• Pyro
• Mr. Speaker
• Rutherienne
• Sightseeing
• Sky Mesa
• Stroll
• Tapit, sire of Hansen and Tonalist
• Wend
• Power Broker
• Stardom Bound
• Lucky Pulpit, sire of California Chrome
• Ordained
• Parading
• Rascal Cat

References