STAGE RAIDER

STAGE RAIDER

STAGE RAIDER (Pioneerof the Nile – Stage Magic by Ghostzapper)

$6,500 LFSN

Lifetime Breeding Right Program Available – $6,500 fee per foal over two years. Must sign Lifetime Breeding Right Program Agreement.

• Graded Stakes Placed & Stakes Winner of $423,370
• 10 ¾ length MSW Winner 2^nd time out at Keeneland earning a TDN RISING STAR
• Won over distances of 7F to 9F – the desirable blend of speed and stamina
• SIX triple digit speed figures
• Dam is stakes placed, Broodmare of the Year (2018), dam of Triple Crown Winner JUSTIFY

A unique opportunity: breed to the bloodlines responsible for the last two Triple Crown Winners

• By PIONEEROF THE NILE, the sire of Triple Crown Winner AMERICAN PHAROAH
• Out of STAGE MAGIC, the dam of Triple Crown Winner JUSTIFY

JUSTIFY – Undefeated Triple Crown Winner

#1 Third Crop Sire

Sire of Eclipse 2YO Champion Just F Y I and TWO European CHAMPION Juveniles 2023: City of Troy and Opera Singer

Prominent stallions from the Pioneerof the Nile sire line:

Triple Crown Winner AMERICAN PHAROAH – #15 on the General Sires List

Cairo Prince – Sire of 37 Stakes Winners, 9 Graded Stakes Winners

Thousand Words – making waves from modest opportunity with his first 2YO runners in 2024. 3.9% BTWnrs/runners and #5 on First-Crop sires list

“Half to Justify Crushes His Competition in ‘Rising Star’ Fashion”

[The TDN]

“He had shown a lot of promise in his career and had run some really brilliant races”

[Cherie Devaux Dec 2023, TOBA]

STAGE RAIDER - News

STAGE RAIDER – New for 2025

Owner-breeder John Gunther, and daughter Tanya Gunther have retired their homebred STAGE RAIDER (2018) (Pioneerofthe Nile – Stage Magic by Ghostzapper) to Pope McLean’s Crestwood Farm in Lexington, Kentucky for the 2025 breeding season.  STAGE RAIDER is half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown winner, and leading sire JUSTIFY the#1 third crop sire; already the sire of over 30+ stakes winners; headed by two Champions, including G1 winners CITY OF TROY, OPERA SINGER, and RAMATUELLE.

“My dad and I really believe in this horse, and we are excited to start him on his new stallion career. Being a half-brother to international sire sensation JUSTIFY, a great physical, combined with the brilliance he showed early in his career, gives him a license to be a high-class sire. The genetics are there for greatness, considering PIONEEROF THE NILE sired a Triple Crown winner, and his dam STAGE MAGIC produced a Triple Crown winner who is now an elite sire!” said Tanya Gunther

STAGE RAIDER was a TDN rising star breaking his maiden in his 2^nd start at Keeneland by an astonishing 10-3/4 lengths. Showing versatility on dirt from 7-9 furlongs, he posted 5-triple digit speed figures, winning the R.A. Cowboy Jones Stakes at 1-mile, and was 2^nd in the 1-mile Ack Ack G3. A winner in top company at Saratoga, Belmont, and Keeneland, he won or placed in 8 of his 18 starts amassing earnings of $423,370.

“It is an honor to partner with the Gunthers on STAGE RAIDER. They have an incredibly impressive resume as the breeders of Grade-1 winners, including the likes of  JUSTIFY, FIRST SAMURAI, MO TOWN, TAMARKUZ, VINO ROSSO, STAY THIRSTY and WITHOUT PAROLE. We believe that working together, STAGE RAIDER has a tremendous chance to be a top sire!” said Pope McLean Jr. of Crestwood Farm.

STAGE RAIDER will stand for $6,500 Live Foal (Payable Stands and Nurse), and a limited lifetime breeding right program will be available. He will be available for inspection starting in November. Please contact Crestwood Farm at 859-252-3770.  

STAGE RAIDER - Pedigree / Research

STAGE RAIDER - Race Record

Won at 3

An allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park

A maiden special weight race at Keeneland

Won at 4

An allowance optional claiming race at Saratoga

Won at 5

• R.A. Cowboy Jones S. at Ellis Park

  (8f, D, defeating Big Blue Line, Seize the Night, Best Actor, Here Mi Song, Wind of Change (BRZ), Kupuna).

2nd at 5

• Ack Ack S. (gr. III) at Churchill Downs

  (8f, D, to Zozos, defeating Three Technique, O Besos, Caddo River, Seize the Night, Skyro). (Watch Replay)

STAGE RAIDER - Photos / Videos