Tom's d'Etat will soon begin his second season of stud duty in central Kentucky, which of course also means a first crop of foals by the Gr1-winning son of Smart Strike are about to hit the ground.

The journey to a spot on the WinStar Farm roster by the heir to one of American breeding's modern greats was anything but routine.

Expectations were high for Tom's d'Etat when as a yearling he brought $330,000 at 2014 Keeneland September. Yet the time afforded the colt out of GSP Julia Tuttle (Giant's Causeway) would be the recurring theme throughout his career, one which would see reach his peak at an age most racehorses of his caliber are now long since retired.

At the helm of this old-school story of patience and promise fulfilled was trainer Al Stall, who a decade earlier guided Blame to an unforgettable career finale in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Unraced at two, Tom's d'Etat was running strong at three, beginning with his maiden victory a streak of six wins over seven starts, in and around two extended layoffs.

It was at age six when Tom's d'Etat finally hit his career-best stride, winning three stakes, including a convincing triumph in the Gr1 Clark. That momentum carried into the following year with his adding the Gr2 Stephen Foster by over four lengths, thus sweeping Churchill Downs' two major stakes for older horses.

Retired with over $1.7 million in earnings, Tom's d'Etat is the last son of Smart Strike to enter stud in central Kentucky. A late-bloomer himself who also skipped his juvenile season, then winning the Gr1 Philip H. Iselin H., at age four, Smart Strike emerged into one of America's best modern-day sources of class and durability.

Moreoever, Julia Tuttle is out of a full sister to leading sire Candy Ride and inbred 4x4 to Blushing Groom. It is the only inbreeding in Tom's d'Etat's first five generations, and thus future mating options are abundant.

One arrival of special interest from Tom's d'Etat's first book will be out of WinStar-owned Heavenly Sis. The well-related daughter of Hard Spun was one of two 1/2 sisters to Instilled Regard sourced for purchase immediately following the future Gr1 winner's career debut.

Retained to race, Heavenly Sis finished runner-up in MSW company five times, including twice over the 2020 Saratoga meet. Now member of WinStar Farm's broodmare band, the KatieRich Farm-bred is granddaughter of seven-time Gr1 winner Heavenly Prize and out of a 3/4 sister to that mare's GSW sons Good Reward and Pure Prize.

Tom's d'Etat with the late Miguel Mena aboard winning the 2020 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs. Coady Photo.