Gershwin enters the sales rings with his first crop from Vikeda’s breeding shed

The Distorted Humor son, a graded stakes winner in the U.S. and a half-brother to Mystic Guide, is among the stallions with their first yearlings hitting the sales rings this season

Gershwin stands at Haras Vikeda / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

One of the most challenging aspects of Thoroughbred breeding is finding the right stallion. Haras Vikeda struck gold with Greenspring (Orientate), a sire of remarkable consistency who, unfortunately, passed away young, just as his best years were ahead of him.

With his loss, the Kehoe family set out to find a worthy successor—a search that led them to the promising Gershwin, a stallion who will see his first yearlings hit the sales rings this season.

A striking chestnut, Gershwin checks all the boxes: pedigree, conformation, and race record. By Distorted Humor, he broke his maiden at three before scoring his most significant victory in the G3 Penn Mile Stakes at Penn National. Trained by Michael Stidham for Sheikh Mohammed, he also finished fourth in the G3 Dwyer Stakes.

His dam, the exceptional Music Note (A.P. Indy), was one of the top fillies of her generation, capturing five G1 races: the Coaching Club American Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes, Beldame Stakes, Ballerina Stakes, and Gazelle Stakes. She also finished second in the Alabama Stakes (G1) and twice placed third in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (G1).

That impeccable pedigree extends further, as Gershwin is a half-brother to Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper), the 2021 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) victor. Music Note is also a half-sister to Musical Chimes (In Excess), who won the G1 Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in France and the G1 John C. Mabee Handicap in the U.S. Further strengthening the bloodline, Gershwin’s third dam is the legendary It’s In The Air (Mr. Prospector), the U.S. Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and a foundation mare of immense influence.

"We’re thrilled with Gershwin and his foals—they have quality and an easygoing nature," said Tommy Kehoe, speaking about the stallion’s first crop. "He adapted incredibly well to the stallion barn, and we’ve had many visitors to Vikeda who were impressed. They are well-balanced, correct, with strong bone and overall good looks. The fillies tend to resemble him more, while the colts vary a bit. All the partners are delighted, and that’s equally important."

Gershwin’s inaugural crop consists of 73 foals, supported by Haras Vikeda, La Pasión, La Leyenda, El Arroyo, Patricio Losinno, Víctor Hugo Nordio, Las Casuarinas, and La Virginia, among others.

Several stakes winners and stakes-producing mares were part of his first book. Notable runners include College Girl(Greenspring), Forbidden Fruit (Sixties Icon), Fanática Mal (Lizard Island), and Che Vampiresa (Greenspring). Among the proven producers, Little Catcher (Catcher In The Rye), Mimi Star (Treasure Cove), Profecía (Intérprete), Sensual Rita (Intérprete), Twin Cities (Salt Lake), and Thunder Rose (Thunder Gulch) also visited his court.

A half-brother to the likes of Fortify, Endorsement, Drosselmeyer, and other successful Distorted Humor progeny in South America, Gershwin enters the sales rings with high expectations.