Kingsbarns (US bred horse)

This article is about the US-bred racehorse. For the Irish-bred racehorse, see Kingsbarns (Irish-bred horse).

Kingsbarns (foaled January 17, 2020) is a retired multiple-Graded winning American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2023 Louisiana Derby and in 2024 won the Grade I Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Kingsbarns (US)
Sire	Uncle Mo
Grandsire	Indian Charlie
Dam	Lady Tapit
Damsire	Tapit
Sex	Colt
Foaled	January 17, 2020[1]
Country	United States
Color	Bay
Breeder	Parks Investment Group
Owner	Spendthrift Farm
Trainer	Todd A. Pletcher
Record	9: 6 – 2 – 0
Earnings	$1,559,060
Major wins
Louisiana Derby (2023) Ben Ali Stakes (2024) Stephen Foster Stakes (2024)
Last updated on July 3, 2024

Background

Kingsbarns is a bay horse that was bred in Kentucky by Parks Investment Group headed by Lee Seering. Seering bought Kingsbarns' dam Lady Tapit for $675,000 who was offered at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and raced her before her career came to an abrupt halt after a training accident.^[2] Kingsbarns was the second foal from Lady Tapit. His sire Uncle Mo since entering stud in 2012, stands for $150,000 at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky has been among the top sires in the Northern Hemisphere. As of April 2024 he ranks 20th overall in lifetime progeny earnings.^[3]

Kingsbarns sold for $250,000 at the 2021 Saratoga Select Yearling Sale to Tom McCrocklin as an agent for Champion Equine. He was then pinhooked and sold to Spendthrift Farm for $800,000 at the 2022 March Fasig-Tipton Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.^[2]

Kingsbarns was trained by US Hall of Fame trainer Todd A. Pletcher.

Kingsbarns was retired in August 2024 after straining a leg ligament in training, and will stand the 2025 breeding season at Spendthrift.^[4]

Statistics

Date	Distance	Race	Grade	Track	Odds	Field	Finish	Winning Time	Winning (Losing) Margin	Jockey	Ref
2023 – Three-year-old season
Jan 14, 2023	1 mile	Maiden Special Weight		Gulfstream Park	3.00*	11	1	1:39.18	1+3⁄4 lengths	Luis Saez	[5]
Feb 12, 2023	1 mile & 40 yards	Allowance Optional Claiming		Tampa Bay Downs	0.50*	7	1	1:40.78	7+3⁄4 lengths	Antonio Gallardo	[6]
Mar 25, 2023	1+3⁄16 miles	Louisiana Derby	II	Fair Grounds	4.50	12	1	1:57.33	3+1⁄2 lengths	Flavien Prat	[7]
May 6, 2023	1+1⁄4 miles	Kentucky Derby	I	Churchill Downs	11.72	18	14	2:01.57	(25+1⁄4 lengths)	Jose L. Ortiz	[8]
Jun 17, 2023	1+1⁄16 miles	Pegasus Stakes	Listed	Monmouth Park	0.50*	6	2	1:57.73	(neck)	Luis Saez	[9]
2024 – Four-year-old season
Mar 2, 2024	7 furlongs	Allowance Optional Claiming		Gulfstream Park	0.60*	8	1	1:22.47	1⁄2 length	Luis Saez	[10]
Apr 20, 2024	1+3⁄16 miles	Ben Ali Stakes	III	Keeneland	1.68*	9	1	1:57.74	3+1⁄4 lengths	Luis Saez	[11]
May 17, 2024	1+3⁄16 miles	Pimlico Special	III	Pimlico	0.70*	7	2	1:57.73	(3⁄4 length)	Luis Saez	[12]
Jun 29, 2024	1+1⁄8 miles	Stephen Foster Stakes	I	Churchill Downs	9.95	8	1	1:48.09	2+1⁄2 lengths	Luis Saez	[13]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Kingsbarns was the post-time favorite.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Kingsbarns, bay colt, foaled January 17, 2020^[1]

Sire Uncle Mo (2008)	Indian Charlie (1995)	In Excess (IRE) (1987)	Siberian Express (1981)
			Kantado (IRE) (1976 )
		Soviet Sojourn (1989)	Leo Castelli (1984)
			Political Parfait (1984)
	Playa Maya (2000)	Arch (1995)	Kris S. (1977)
			Aurora (1988)
		Dixie Slippers (1995)	Dixieland Band (1980)
			Cyane's Slippers (1983)
Dam Lady Tapit (2012)	Tapit (2001)	Pulpit (1994)	A.P. Indy (1989)
			Preach (1989)
		Tap Your Heels (1996)	Unbridled (1987)
			Ruby Slippers (1982)
	Temperence Gift (1998)	Kingmambo (1990)	Mr Prospector (1970)
			Miesque (1984)
		Shapiro's Mistress (1986)	Unpredictable (1979)
			Anytime Ms. (1979) (family 3)[14]