Mr. Big, sire of recent $200,000 Fleet Treat Stakes winner Big Book, will continue his stallion career in California at E.A. Ranches, Ramona. Previously standing in Kentucky for owner George Krikorian, the 17.2 hand stallion by Dynaformer is the only son of the legendary sire available to breeders in the Golden State.
From only 11 foals of racing age, including two unraced 2-year-olds, Mr. Big’s progeny have registered five wins from three offspring, including a decisive 2 ¼ length win by California-bred 3-year-old filly Big Book in the 7-furlong Fleet Treat Stakes at Del Mar.
Last year, Mr. Big’s first test foal, Kentucky-bred Big Break, broke her maiden in a 5 ½ furlong race at Santa Anita by 7 ¾ lengths at first asking and came back in the Santa Paula Stakes (6 ½ furlong on the dirt) to outrun graded stakes horses Taste Like Candy and Morning Fix.
Mr. Big’s five runners to date have all finished in the money, earning an average $66,740 per starter. With a stellar current-year Average Earnings Index (AEI) of 3.25 he tremendously upgrades his mares (Comparative Index CI: 0.81). On California’s Third-Crop sire list, Mr. Big would currently rank 7th with progeny earnings of $333,700.
By Dynaformer and out of the stakes winning and graded stakes producing Fappiano mare Fashion Delight, Mr. Big is a half-brother to Grade-3-winner and Grade-2-placed Magnificience. Mr. Big was a Bob Baffert trainee for most of his racing career where he flashed his talent winning twice and recording an Equibase™ speed figure of 106.
Mr. Big’s 2016 stud fee will be announced at a later date.