A G3 winner, he left only two crops at Haras Vacación, which will begin to hit the market this season
By Diego H. Mitagstein
With just a few days to go before Argentina’s new sales season kicks off, the excitement is palpable. Despite economic hurdles, the dream remains the same: finding that once-in-a-lifetime horse, the champion, the ultimate thrill.
A series of major auctions is on the horizon—yearlings, broodmares, weanlings, stallions—offering something for everyone. Among the many new sires making their debut, one name stands out: Uncle Chuck. The late son of Uncle Mo spent two years at Haras Vacación before his untimely passing, leaving behind two crops that will now be hitting the market. His arrival continued the farm’s legacy of success, following in the footsteps of influential stallions such as Pepenador (Lucky Debonair), Mariache (Dancing Moss), Salt Lake (Deputy Minister), Roy (Fappiano), Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus), and the current leading sire Fortify (Distorted Humor).
Under the care of Bob Baffert and racing in Mike Pegram’s silks, Uncle Chuck showed immense promise on the track as a 3-year-old in the U.S. He debuted with an impressive gate-to-wire, seven-length victory over a mile at Santa Anita Park, stopping the clock in 1:36.78. A month later, he followed up with a dominant win in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3, 1800m, dirt), scoring by four lengths in 1:47.65 over Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), a multiple graded stakes winner.
His career, however, was cut short in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, where he sustained a career-ending injury in a race won by Tiz the Law (Constitution).
Opportunities to acquire one of his offspring will be limited, as Uncle Chuck’s progeny will only be available in 2025 and 2026, with just 107 foals in his first crop and 85 in his second.
Agustín Ventimiglia, manager of Haras Vacación, shared insights on the young sire’s impact:"He was a big, strong horse with great bone structure, and that’s exactly what he’s passing on to his foals. They have an exceptional temperament and class—qualities that are highly sought after. While his build suggested a distance-oriented profile, he showed tremendous speed in his short career, always racing prominently. That aligns with his half-brother Maclean’s Music, one of the top young sires in the U.S., who has already produced champions with serious speed. We have high expectations for Uncle Chuck’s offspring, believing they can combine his speed with stamina and excel over distance, particularly on dirt tracks."
Uncle Chuck received significant support during his time at Haras Vacación, and several of his progeny will be featured at the farm’s Gran Venta Selecta at the end of the month. Among the highlights:
Local Time, out of Limusina (Roy), a half-brother to G2 winner Romaño (Roman Ruler) and Love and Roses (King’s Best), dam of multiple black-type performers.
Stormy Weather, out of Stormy Lunar (Bernstein), a half-brother to G2 winner Ser Sincero (Fortify).
Tarea Simple, a daughter of G1 winner Tamariu (Engrillado).
Tan Feliz, out of stakes winner Trigoria (Roman Ruler).
Leitmotiv, a filly out of La Musical (King’s Best), a half-sister to champion Balada Sale (Not for Sale) and Le Blues (Roman Ruler).
Other Uncle Chuck progeny include siblings to Lenovo (Roman Ruler), Equal Miller (Equal Stripes), In the Dark (Mutakddim), Marignac (Equal Stripes), Daniel Boone (Roman Ruler), and recent G2 winner Martana (Fortify).
The first of just two crops left by Uncle Chuck in Argentina is set to make a major impact. With such a strong pedigree, early signs of class, and the backing of one of the country’s premier breeding operations, his offspring are sure to be among the most sought-after prospects in the upcoming sales.
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