With Messier and Chewing Gum, Rockridge Offers Something New in New York

[Wandering Eyes]

Rockridge Stud has added two new stallions for the 2025 season, bringing its roster up to seven members. With MGSW/GISP 'TDN Rising Star' Messier (Empire Maker – Checkered Past, by Smart Strike) and 2022 GII Joe Hernandez Stakes winner Chewing Gum (Candy Ride {Arg} – Shared Heart, by Forestry), the farm aims to capitalize on bloodlines that are not already represented in New York.

Standing privately for a partnership that includes Wachtel Stable and Pantofel Stable, Chewing Gum is the only son of Candy Ride standing in New York. Over six years on the racetrack, the hard-knocking bay placed in 19 of his 35 career starts. His five wins included a maiden score at Kentucky Downs in 2019 and the aforementioned GII turf event at Santa Anita. An impressive runner-up to Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the 2021 GI Jaipur Stakes, Chewing Gum also placed in both the 2020 and 2021 editions of the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational Stakes.

“Chewing Gum was good on turf, dirt and synthetic,” said Lere Visagie, the owner and manager of Rockridge Stud. “He's a horse that a lot of breeders can get behind. With the new Belmont coming in with the new synthetic, this horse will fit that bill.”

Also new to Rockridge in 2025, Messier is the only son of Empire Maker standing in New York. A $470,000 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling purchase by Donato Lanni on behalf of SF Bloodstock, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing, Messier broke his maiden on his second try, earning 'Rising Star' status in his 6 ½-length score. Next time out, he won the GIII Bob Hope Stakes and followed that with a runner-up finish in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity. In his 3-year-old debut, Messier dominated the GIII Robert B. Lewis with a 15-length victory, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure. He earned a spot in the GI Kentucky Derby with a second in the GI Santa Anita Derby. Later as a 5-year-old, Messier scored in the GIII Westchester Stakes. He retired with a record of 15-4-5-1 and earnings of just under $600,000.

Chewing Gum | Sarah Andrew

 

 

“When we saw [Messier] in Kentucky, we loved him at first sight,” said Visagie. “We knew he would work for New York just because he was very impressive and pretty, and with his race record. If you look at him, you can see why he was such a good racehorse because he's got all the parts of a tremendous athlete.”

Messier will stand for $5,000 in his debut season.

Part of Rockridge's model for success is about gaining solid support for first-year stallions by forming partnerships among other players in the breeding business.

Americanrevolution

-03-04-2025-at-Rockridge-SA6_8781-PRINT-Sarah-Andrew.jpg" alt="" width="1155" height="840" /> Americanrevolution sees his first foals in 2025 | Sarah Andrew

 

“A few years ago, the stallion market was kind of a little on a lull, and we looked at what we could do to rejuvenate everybody to get more involvement in the stallion business.” said Visagie. “We went with a few of the farms and sat down and said, 'Let's go in on a horse and get together and participate as a group in supporting him.'”

The first horse they chose was Mind Control. In his first year at stud, Mind Control bred 191 mares. The model seemed worth replicating.

“We followed up with Americanrevolution,” said Visagie. “Winstar had campaigned him and when they wanted him to retire, we got in touch with them. They helped us and we formed another big group to support a stallion with multiple farms involved.”

Americanrevolution's first foals are on the ground this year.

“All of them came out very nice, good-sized and very flashy,” said Visagie. “On top of that, there was a lot of substance to these foals.”

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