“We are very happy to add Istan Again to our broodmare stables. She is by Istan – a horse who retired from racing to begin his career as a stallion during the economic recession and depressed breeding market that began in 2008,” said Troy Levy. “What is impressive about him, besides his success on the track, is that even though he had relatively small crops, what he did produce were graded stakes winners, black type winners, and graded stakes placers! I can only imagine what his progeny would look like today had his career began in a better market!”
Istan Again is the daughter of Istan (Gone West – Ronda, by Bluebird) – a stallion who’s first crop in 2009 had 42 foals, while his next three crops only had a total of 34 foals. The timing of his stallion career began during the 2008 bloodstock depression, which resulted in smaller books and less offspring. Although the quantity of foals was low during these lean years in the industry, the QUALITY of Istan’s progeny was, and continues to be, very impressive with MULTIPLE STAKES WINNERS and MULTIPLE GRADED SCORERS.
In his first crop, Istan sired Gr. 3 winner and multiple-black type winner, Mr. Bowling (Istan – Goldilock’s Bear, by Irish Tower). The same year, he also sired Atigun (Istan – Rimini Road, by Dynaformer), who placed in the Gr. 1 Belmont Stakes, the Gr. 2 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, the Gr. 2 Razorback Handicap, and the Gr. 3 Louisville Handicap. In 2011 Istan only had 11 foals, yet two were Graded Stakes Winners – Istanford (Istan – Aerocat, by Tale of the Cat), who captured the Gr. 2 San Clemente Stakes and the Gr. 3 Arlington Classic Stakes, and Albano (Istan – Pocho’s Dream Girl, by Fortunate Prospect) – a Multiple Grade Placed runner who won the Gr. 3 Pegasus Handicap.
Istan’s 2016 super-star filly, Street Band (Istan – Street Minstrel, by Street Cry) – Istan Again’s half-sister from the same crop – just sold for $1 million at the November 2020 Fasig-Tipton Sale. The millionaire filly won the Gr. 2 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks, the Gr. 3 Indiana Oaks, the Gr. 1 Cotillion Stakes, and she placed third in the Gr. 1 Alabama Stakes and the Gr. 3 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes.
Istan is the son of top-class sire Gone West. He won his maiden in his first attempt and continued to show high speed in winning stakes at a mile. He campaigned in France and did his best work in the United States, where he captured the Gr. 3 Ack Ack at Churchill Downs, the Ellis Park Governor’s Handicap, the Gr. 3 Turfway Fall Championship Stakes, the Artax Handicap (Listed), the Budweiser Challenger Stakes (Black Type).
Istan Again’s dam, Tell Me Again (Majesticperfection – Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo) also produced Istan Again’s full sister, Quick Decision (Istan – Tell Me Again, by Majesticperfection) who, in 2020, has won $87,600 with two career starts that resulted in two firsts.
Her second dam, Echo Echo Echo (Eastern Echo – Kashie West, by Sir Ivor) is a Black Type Winner of $152,342 and, as a broodmare, has produced 7 winners out of 10 starters, with one Graded Black Type Winner, 1 Black Type Winner, and two Black Type Placers. Her progeny earnings are $747,049.
Istan Again is in foal to Upstart (Flatter – Party Silks, by Touch Gold) who was on the board 11 out of 15 starts with four wins, three seconds, and four thirds and had career earnings of $1,732,780. He has 18 first-crop 2-year-old winners, including Gr. 1-Placed Reinvestment Risk (4-1-2-0) and Multiple Black-Type Placed Uptown (6-2-2-2). His second-crop yearlings have sold up to $410,000.
