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FEATURE STALLION FEBRUARY 3, 2006 A Benchmark for quality by Jordan Strickler At a little farm in Buellton, California, stands a horse who has been doing big things lately. As Proposed crossed the finish line a 2 1/2-length winner in the El Encino S. (G2) on January 15, she became the second BENCHMARK (Alydar) foal in as many days to win a Grade 2 race. Just the day before, Brother Derek, a leading contender on the Triple Crown Trail, emerged victorious in the San Rafael S. (G2) in his three-year-old debut, defeating juvenile champion Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even). Brother Derek has proven Benchmark's most proficient runner thus far, having already captured the Hollywood Futurity (G1), Norfolk S. (G2) and San Rafael. The newly-turned three-year-old has amassed $502,080 in earnings with three wins in five starts, as well as a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The success of his runners over the past year has prompted a rise in the 15-year-old's stud fee from $7,500 to $10,000. Benchmark's progeny winnings to date exceed $6 million, with 83 winners from 122 starters. His increased attractiveness has not only encouraged a rise in stud fee, but Benchmark is also drawing offers from Kentucky farms for the fourth-crop sire. "It's not often that you see Kentucky farms looking to bring over stallions from California," River Edge Farm Manager Russell Drake said. Two of Benchmark's best runners have come from Bertrando mares -- a fellow River Edge Farm stallion who stands for $12,500 -- in Proposed and Silent Sighs. Silent Sighs, a winner in four of her six career outings, defeated eventual champion two-year-old juvenile filly Halfbridled by 1 1/2 lengths in the 2004 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), the last of three stakes victories over her two-year long career. Proposed, who captured four of six outings in 2005, annexed her first stakes win in her four-year-old debut. Benchmark has also sired a solid turf performer in A to the Z, who won the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Memorial H. (G2) last year and finished an excellent second to recently crowned turf champion Leroidesanimaux (Brz) in the 2004 Citation H. (G1). Benchmark raced only once during his juvenile campaign in 1994, finishing eighth in a maiden special weight, and broke his maiden in his second start at three. He raced only twice more that season and made only two starts at four. After winning his five-year-old bow in 1997, the bay horse made his first stakes appearance a winning one in the San Bernardino H. (G2). Following placings in the Californian S. (G2) and San Diego H. (G3), Benchmark reeled off consecutive victories in the Del Mar Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and Goodwood Breeders' Cup S. (G2). He retired with a 16-7-2-4 line and $636,707 in earnings over five years of racing. Benchmark is out of the Danzig mare Winter's Love, who finished third in the 1984 Astarita S. (G2) and Schuylerville S. (G3), and hails from an outstanding female family. His half-sister is $1.6 million earner Tranquility Lake (Rahy), who counts the Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), Gamely Breeders' Cup H. (G1), Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) and Santa Barbara H. (G2) among her many accomplishments, and he's also a half-brother to 1997 San Felipe S. (G2) third-placer King Crimson (Capote). Benchmark's second dam is the stakes-winning Cold Hearted (The Axe II), who produced 1983 Belmont S. (G1) victor Caveat and multiple Grade 3 hero and Grade 1 runner-up Dew Line, who are both by Cannonade. Benchmark was purchased by Drake, on the behalf of Martin and Pam Wygod, as a weanling for $475,000 at the 1991 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Described as an attractive and correct stallion, he also has the tendency to exhibit a tough mannerism at times, but remains a sensible horse who throws offspring with a shrewd awareness about them. With only four crops of racing age on the track, Benchmark has sired two Grade 1 winners and seven stakes winners. Drake is optimistic that Benchmark has only just begun to make his mark as a stallion. "We believe in him and the best is yet to come."
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