San Miguel, California — Third-crop sire Gem Heist, a son of Street Cry (Ire) out of Tapit’s Grade 1-winning millionaire Careless Jewel, has been relocated to stand at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, California for the 2022 breeding season. His fee is $2,500, live foal guarantee.
The 10-year-old stallion previously stood at a private farm in Bakersfield, California as the property of the late horseman Bob Grayson Sr. Grayson purchased Gem Heist for $100,000 from Eddie Woods’ consignment at the 2014 Barretts March Sale of Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training after the racing prospect was clocked in a co-bullet :09 4/5 for his one-furlong, pre-sale breeze.
Gem Heist experienced a career-ending injury while preparing for his debut, and was subsequently retired to a modest stallion career prior to the 2017 breeding season. To date, he is credited with 29 reported foals, including eight juveniles and three yearlings of 2022.
From his five lifetime starters, three are winners, led by the multiple winning filly Saturday Heist, an $82,700-earner from his initial foal crop. Now 4, she broke her maiden by 6 1/4 lengths in her April 2021 career debut at Santa Anita Park, and has won three races overall by a combined 13 lengths.
Gem Heist’s 2021 progeny earnings of $152,000 ranked him fourth among all California-based second-crop sires last year.
“We have nine Gem Heist babies in our barn now,” said trainer Val Brinkerhoff, who has saddled all three of the stallion’s winners for Grayson’s son, Bob Grayson Jr. “They are all very athletic and eager to train, and they all seem to have a good turn of foot. There’s a lot of value to be had with their sire.”
Produced by 2009 Alabama Stakes (G1) winner Careless Jewel ($1,013,346), Gem Heist boasts the Grade 1-winning stallions City of Light, Subordination and Cacoethes in his immediate family.
“We are pleased to welcome a stallion with such top-class bloodlines to Rancho San Miguel,” said farm owner / manager Tom Clark. “Gem Heist has exhibited true potential with his early starters, and he is improving his mares. We look forward to helping him reach the next level in his stallion career.”
Thoroughbred Info Press Release
Photo: Saturday Heist (Benoit Photo)
