Northern Afleet (January 23, 1993 - June 1, 2018) was an American

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic ...

and sire. He is best known as the sire of dual Triple Crown Classic winner Afleet Alex and

Breeders' Cup The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred racing, Thoroughbred horse races, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was ...

winners World Approval and Amazombie

Background

Northern Afleet was bred in

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virgini ...

by Hermitage Farm, a small thoroughbred operation. He was sired by Afleet, a

Canadian Horse of the Year The Canadian Horse of the Year is a thoroughbred horse racing honour given annually since 1951 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is the most prestigious honour in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing. Part of the Sovereign Awards program since 1975, ...

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

Racing career

1995: two-year-old season

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 The Del Mar Futurity is a seven-furlong American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 2007, the race is open to two-year-old horses and offers a purse of $300,000. In 1971, it w ...

1996: three-year-old season

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 The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The race is at a distance of seven furlongs '' and is the first leg of Santa Anita Park's Strub Seri ...

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

Northern Afleet won his first start as an older horse, winning the

San Fernando Stakes The San Fernando Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to four-year-old horses, it is contested on at a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on Pro-Ride synthetic d ...

in his first graded stakes victory. He finished fifth in the

Strub Stakes The Strub Stakes is an American race for thoroughbred horses run at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California each year. Currently a Grade II stakes race with a purse of $200,000, it is for four-year-olds, at one and one-eighth miles on Santa Anita ...

before winning the

San Carlos Handicap The San Carlos Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race once held during the third week of February at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, but now run in March. The Grade II stakes race is open to horses, aged three and up, willing to rac ...

. He finished third in both what is now known as the Kona Gold Stakes and

Metropolitan Handicap The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furl ...

. After running fourth in the Triple Bend Handicap, he won the

San Diego Handicap The San Diego Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late July/early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. This Grade II race is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles o ...

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 The Breeders' Cup Sprint is an American Weight for Age Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older. Run on dirt Corrected grade for Santa Anita sprintover a distance of 6 Furlongs ( mile), the race has been held annually s ...

, where he finished seventh. 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.

Stud career

Overview

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 Taylor Made Farm is a 1,600-acre Thoroughbred racehorse breeding farm in Jessamine County, Kentucky, and is a leading consignor of Thoroughbred horses. The farm is owned and operated by four brothers, Duncan, Ben, Frank and Mark Taylor with thei ...

and moved to Kentucky, where he was bred to 150 mares. A year after moving to Kentucky, Northern Afleet's son Afleet Alex won the

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs ...

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. 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.

Notable Progeny

Northern Afleet's most notable progeny include: * Afleet Alex: Winner of the

, Belmont Stakes,

Arkansas Derby The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. In 2004, ...

Sanford Stakes The Sanford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of July at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A six furlong sprint race, the Grade III event is open to two-year-old horses. Inaug ...

, and

Hopeful Stakes The Hopeful Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old horses, the Hopeful is the first Grade I stakes for two-year-olds each season and historically ...

. 2005 U.S. Champion Three Year Old Male. * Amazombie: Winner of the

, Ancient Title Stakes,

Potrero Grande Handicap The Kona Gold Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses that are three years old or older with allowance conditions, over a distance of six and one half furlongs on the dirt held annually in April at Santa Anita Park, Arc ...

(twice), and Bing Crosby Stakes. 2011 U.S. Champion Male Sprinter. *

World Approval World Approval (foaled February 23, 2012) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile. A minor stakes winner at age three, he won his first Grade I race at age four in the United Nations Stak ...

: Winner of the

Breeders' Cup Mile The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's incept ...

Woodbine Mile The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Currently sponsored by Ricoh, the Woodbine Mile offers a purse of ...

, Fourstardave Handicap, United Nations Stakes,

Dixie Stakes The Dinner Party Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in the United States and the oldest stakes race in Maryland and all ...

American Derby The American Derby is a Thoroughbred horse race in the United States run annually at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The inaugural American Derby was held at Chicago's old Washington Park Race Track on the city's South Side and rac ...

, and Saranac Stakes. * Kaigun: Winner of the Play the King Stakes, Seabiscuit Handicap, and Pan American Stakes. * Teaks North: Winner of the

Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race, by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track, held annually in late January or early February at ...

, United Nations Stakes, Monmouth Stakes. * Evening Jewel: Winner of the

Ashland Stakes The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named fo ...

, Del Mar Oaks, Honeymoon Handicap, and

San Clemente Handicap The San Clemente Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies over a distance of one mile on the turf course scheduled annually in late July or early August at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The ...

. * Denman's Call: Winner of the Triple Bend Handicap. * Baccelo (BRZ): Winner of the Philip H. Iselin Stakes. * War Story: Winner of the

Brooklyn Handicap The Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (formerly known as the Brooklyn Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, on Long Island. It currently is a Grade II event open to four-year-o ...

. * Negligee: Winner of the

Alcibiades Stakes The Alcibiades Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. A Grade I race, it is open to two-year-old fillies willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. ...

. * Big City Man: Winner of the

Dubai Golden Shaheen The Dubai Golden Shaheen is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates for three-year-old and above thoroughbreds run over a distance of 1,200 metres (approximately 6 furlongs) on the dirt course at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai in late ...

Dr. Fager Stakes The FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes Dr. Fager division is the first leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes series. Inaugurated in 1982, the race was named after the Florida-bred Horse of the Year and leading sire Dr. Fager. The race was originally run at ...

, Al Shindagha Sprint and Criterium Stakes. * Leeman (SDA): Winner of the Abdulaziz Cup. * Fiddlers Afleet: Multiple stakes winner.

Death

Northern Afleet was

euthanized Animal euthanasia (euthanasia from el, εὐθανασία; "good death") is the act of killing an animal or allowing it to die by withholding extreme medical measures. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditio ...

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.

Pedigree

{{Pedigree, name=Northern Afleet, bay horse, foaled January 23, 1993{{cite web , title= Northern Afleet Pedigree , url= http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Northern%20Afleet?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=1394968®istry=T&horse_name=Northern%20Afleet&dam_name=Nuryette&foaling_year=1993&include_sire_line=Y, f=Afleet
ch. 1984, m=Nuryette
b. 1986, ff=

Mr. Prospector Mr. Prospector (January 28, 1970 – June 1, 1999) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, i ...

b. 1970, fm=Polite Lady
b. 1977, mf= Nureyev
b. 1977, mm=Stellarette
b. 1978, fff=

Raise a Native Raise a Native (April 18, 1961 – July 28, 1988) was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse that was named 1963 champion two-year-old colt in the Turf and Sport Digest poll and was the highest rated juvenile in the Experimental Free Handicap. He s ...

ch. 1961, ffm=Gold Digger
b. 1962, fmf=Venetian Jester
ch. 1964, fmm=Friendly Ways
b. 1968, mff=

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canadi ...

b. 1961, mfm=Special
b. 1969, mmf= Tentam
dkb/br. 1969, mmm=Square Angel
b. 1970, ffff=

Native Dancer Native Dancer (March 27, 1950 – November 16, 1967), nicknamed the ''Gray Ghost'', was one of the most celebrated and accomplished Thoroughbred racehorses in American history and was the first horse made famous through the medium of television. ...

, fffm=Raise You, ffmf= Nashua, ffmm=Sequence, fmff=

Tom Fool Tom Fool (March 31, 1949 – August 20, 1976) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1953 American Horse of the Year and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame. He sired the champion racehorses Buckpasser and Tim Tam. Bac ...

, fmfm=Venice, fmmf=Green Ticket, fmmm=Ways to Learn, mfff=

Nearctic The Nearctic realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting the Earth's land surface. The Nearctic realm covers most of North America, including Greenland, Central Florida, and the highlands of Mexico. The parts of North America ...

, mffm= Natalma, mfmf= Forli, mfmm=Thong, mmff= Intentionally, mmfm=Tamerett, mmmf= Quadrangle, mmmm=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

1993 racehorse births Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 14-c Racehorses bred in Kentucky 2018 racehorse deaths