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Spiritus Invictus Pensioned at 16

Original article written by Gabrielle Mackenzie posted 1 year 2 weeks ago

Pension watch; it starts when a stallion hits 14 years of age, and ends with one of two choices: a three day, last minute rush to get those last mares in for one last chance to carry on a legacy; or a quiet exit from the stud barn into the pastures for a well-deserved rest.

Spiritus Invictus evaded the pensioner bug for longer than many of the greats did. At 16, he beat out legends like Trafalgar, Awake as I Am, Voracious, East, and more for an impressive full two years of outrunning the clock. But this is one appointment that no stallion ever misses. Spiritus Invictus now gets a long-due rest in the cushy pastures of his New York home.

It should come as no surprise that this black speedster made it into the Hall of Fame; his sire is none other than Hall of Famer If Looks Could. Sired by all-star sire Look I Am Scary and out of Nicholas mare Jealous Look. If Looks Could lent his genes to over 1700 foals over his years at stud. He produced stars like two-time North American Champion Sprinter Buildyouanempire (who in turn sired Age of Scorpio, Turn the Tables, Skathis, Devious, and Sounds the Bells, dam of Saudi Sprint winner Sirens); Steward’s Cup winners Third Verses, Take a Long Look, and If Love Could (sire of Quickstorm); Islands Horse of the Year Jett; and millionaires Kinectic and Wish You The Best.

Spiritus Invictus’ mother shines just as bright as his sire. Sired by Hall of Famer Delorean and out of Hall of Famer Villain mare Lady Villain, Ominous Spiritus was never a standout on the track; her biggest accomplishment was a second place finish in the listed Your Honour Stakes. She was obviously weighed down by her diamond encrusted uterus, because she produced seven stakes winners and four multi-millionaires after her retirement! Her sons Spiritus Invictus and Two-Year-Old Sprint Championship winner Robespierre both boast highly successful careers in the breeding shed.

Likewise, her daughters, North American Champion Female Sprinters and Steward’s Cup winners Kaos and Lightning are best-in-class broodmares. Kaos is the dam of multi-millionaire Kinectic (sire of Silver Jeans and Syer Line) and graded stakes winner Kaos Theory, while her sister Lightning claims blood ties to North American Champion Sprinter Storm (sire of The Evil Empire, Sirens, and Perfectly Splendid) as well as Desert Golden Sprint runner up Thunder.

Spiritus Invictus shone on the track in his 2-year-old and 3-year-old races. Instead of sending him out to a maiden special weight like so many other rookies, owner Jake Peters put him through his paces in the Awesome Storm Stakes where he nailed down his first $50,000. He would go on to win two more listed stakes and three graded stakes races before hitting the jackpot in the $1.5 million Two Year Old Sprint Championship. There he would outrun Desert Golden Sprint winner Decency, as well as his half-brothers Kinectic and Jett, finishing ahead by a neck.

Year 48 saw the black stallion capturing first place in several graded stakes races. HIs perfect career starts was only marred by a loss by a neck to G1 Oceanside Futurity winner Return to Sender. And still the crown jewel of Spiritus Invictus’ career would come in his four-year-old season with a victory in the Steward’s Cup Sprint. It was a tight race, hearts in throats as the titans of the dirt sprint world clashed, only to see Spiritus Invictus take the title by a mere head. He beat out fellow Hall of Famer King of Stars, North American Champion Sprinter One Look Back, and once more left Decency in his shadow.

After he retired to the stud barn, Spiritus Invictus saw 770 mares in total, with 184 of them being stakes producers. He sired three different freak gallopers and 27 stakes gallopers, with 20 of his foals going on to win their own stakes races. His most prolific son is North American Champion Sprinter Most Spirited, winner of the Y55 Steward’s Cup Sprint. (Most Spirited is out of Hall of Famer St. Longinus mare and graded stakes winner Toe the Line.) Most Spirited went on to sire North American Champion Female Sprinters Shouldawouldacoulda, and Revenge and Wrath.

Spiritus Invictus’ second millionaire son is North American Champion Two Year Old Male, Royal. Out of two time North American Champion Sprinter Benefit mare True Happiness, Royal is still in the prime of his racing years. Last year he celebrated in the winner’s circle at the Two Year Old Sprint Championship, beating out several graded stakes winners in the process.

Spiritus Invictus was a fantastic racer and a key piece keeping the dynasties of If Looks Could and Ominous Spiritus alive and well in the dirt sprinters of today. He still has two crops of foals that have yet to see the track, so there is still no telling how much more of an impact he has made in the breeding shed.


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