Following Sea
Runhappy—Quick Flip, by Speightstown
Bay Horse
Foaled March 10, 2018
in Kentucky
9 Starts
G2 winner
A++
His Story
Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, Following Sea is out of the Speightstown stakes winner Quick Flip . The colt started his racing career at 3 as a Spendthrift homebred with trainer Bob Baffert, getting his first win in his second start at Oaklawn Park in April 2021 when he completed six furlongs in 1:09.92. Transferred to Todd Pletcher, he followed that up with another win in early June at Belmont Park in his next start and was then sent to the Haskell Stakes (G1) where he finished second at the 1 1/8-mile distance.
Following Sea was shortened back up and finished third in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course. He went on to win the Vosburgh Stakes (G2) at Belmont, running six furlongs in 1:09.20. A third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar and a second in the the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack closed out his 3-year-old campaign. He would make one start this year before being retired with a 3-2-4 record from nine starts and $855,620 in earnings.
Wire to wire G2 Vosburgh S. winner by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:09.20-100 Beyer.
2nd G1 Cigar Mile-104 Beyer, G1 Haskell S., 3rd G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint-97 Beyer, G1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S.
Ran 1-2-3 in all 9 lifetime starts. Geared down wire to wire 6f. MSW win for Baffert 2nd start by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:09.92, setting :21.89, :45.18, :57.36 fractions on the OP G1 Arkansas Derby Day undercard—97 Beyer
Took command next out 6.5 f. Allowance at BEL for new trainer Pletcher, led at stretch call in 1:08.82, drew off to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:15.28—100 Beyer.
Big, beautiful 16.2 1/2 son of Eclipse Champion Sprinter & G1 Track Record setter RUNHAPPY, FOLLOWING SEA is the leading earner from his sire’s 1st crop with $855,620.
Out of the stakes winning Speightstown mare Quick Flip ($97,300), who is also dam of G3 placed into Mischief filly ($450k FTK Sept. yrlg) Gimmick ($175,504) & Listed stakes places Orb filly ($150k KNov. Wnlg) Inspeightof ($128,030). Quick Flip has 2021—2023 colts by Hard Spun ($550k KSept. Yrlg), Authentic ($300k FTK Oct. yrlg), into Mischief & was bred back to him for 2024.
Quick Flip is half-sister to Listed SW/G2 placed Qahira (by Cairo Prince), $253,400 & Listed SW Stormin’ Lyon (by Storm Boot) $176,858. Her unraced full sister Speightlass has 3 foals to race, all winners, including SW/G3 placed Factor It In (by The Factor) $550,120.
“”Following Sea is great-looking and an outstanding mover. He had tons of speed,”
— Todd Pletcher, Trainer
Following Sea 