Florida Stallion Overdriven With New Vocations
February 2018
Overdriven, a Florida-based stallion, has been retired from stud duty and gelded. He is currently with New Vocations, and is in training for a second career and potential adoption. Owner Mike Repole made the decision after Overdriven’s book of mares declined.
"Maybe other people would have sold him, and he would have had a couple of more years (as a stallion)," Repole said. "But what happens when he's 11 or 14 or 16. I didn't want him out of my control and ending up in a country where I would never know what happened to him. He was good to me as a racehorse, and I gave him every opportunity. Now I want to be sure he's cared for. I called Anna (Ford) because we have a great relationship, and I know New Vocations has the first right of refusal to get a horse back and make sure he's OK.”
New Vocations started Overdriven with the basics. First, he had to learn how to be turned out with another horse without trying to breed it, according to Ford. Overdriven's coach was R Ranger, a 10-year-old gelded son of Forestry who is pensioned at Old Friends. "To be honest, he's doing extremely well," said Anna Ford, director at New Vocations. "He is actually a really lovely mover. He has not only transitioned well, but he has a really good mind, and we're really excited to see what he'll be able to accomplish. He was talented as a racehorse, and now that we have gotten to see him go, he's talented as a riding horse, too," she continued. "And he's really pretty. In the equestrian world to be a dark bay with four white socks and a star, you couldn't be any cuter."
Overdriven was bred in Kentucky by Mount Joy Stables. He won the Gr.II Saratoga Special Stakes in a racing career that was cut short by injury, and retired with a record of 3: 2-0-0 and earnings of $129,750. The son of Tale of the Cat and half-brother to Smooth Air began his stallion career in 2013 at Ocala Stud. His top progeny includes black-type stakes winner Arms Runner and stakes-placed winner Overnegotiate. Overdriven currently sits at 11th place on the Third Crop Leading Sires list.
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