Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive to begin stud career in Japan

Undefeated two-year-old and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive has been purchased to stand at stud in Japan for the 2021 breeding season by the Thoroughbred Breeders Club.

Campaigned by Sam Ross and Mike Hall's Breeze Easy and trained by Wesley Ward, the son of American Pharoah became a black-type winner on his first start when taking the Rosie's Stakes at Colonial Downs by three and a quarter lengths.

In his second start, he earned Graded credentials after winning the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park by three lengths. He went into the Breeders' Cup as the favourite in the five-furlong Juvenile Turf Sprint, where he won gate-to-wire by three-quarters of a length.

Bred by Glenvale Stud in Kentucky, Four Wheel Drive is out of the More Than Ready stakes winner Funfair. He was highly regarded as a yearling, selling for $525,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale to Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds out of Paramount Sales' consignment.

Four Wheel Drive (yellow and dark blue silks): heading to JapanCredit: Edward Whitaker

He was offered again at two at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select sale of two-year-olds in training, where he was bought back on a final bid of $825,000.

Four Wheel Drive, who retired with three wins from four starts and earned $693,385, is out of the same family as the Grade 1-placed, multiple Graded winner Dynever and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Furthest Land.

The four-year-old is one of eight individual Group winners for his sire, who is responsible for 25 stakes performers overall including the top level scorers Harvey's Lil Goil and Van Gogh.

Four Wheel Drive is currently in quarantine awaiting shipment to Japan.

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