Three Chimneys Farm
2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner
Three Chimneys Farm has made a significant impression and impact on the landscape of the Thoroughbred industry over its 40 years in the business and is prepared to make a positive impact for the next 40. Famously started as a small boarding operation of nine mares by Robert and Blythe Clay, this Midway, Kentucky farm has built a strong and proud tradition of achievement. Three Chimneys has managed the careers of some of the top stallions in the history of American Thoroughbred breeding like Seattle Slew, Dynaformer, and Rahy, and has also been involved with the breeding and/or racing careers of such stellar mares as Hidden Lake, Pompeii, Gorgeous, Ave, and Miss Keller.
In November 2013, a new chapter in this illustrious history began when the Borges-Torrealba family acquired Three Chimneys Farm. While maintaining its family-owned feel and comfortable atmosphere, Three Chimneys is managed by a professional and highly qualified staff, ready and able to serve the various needs of its clientele to ensure growth and positive results.
Since that time, the farm has raced or bred eight Grade 1 winners, topped by 2017 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male Gun Runner, a six-time Grade 1 winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1), Whitney S. (G1), Woodward S. (G1), Stephen Foster (G1) and Clark H. (G1) with lifetime earnings of $15,988,500.
Three Chimneys’ first Grade 1 winner as an owner was 2015 Acorn S. (G1) winner Carina Mia, who also won the Eight Belles S. (G2) and Golden Rod S. (G2). In 2018, the farm owned or bred a trio of Grade 1 winners: Skitter Scatter—bred in partnership—won the Moyglare Stud S. (G1) in Ireland; Restless Rider—co-owned with Fern Circle Stables—won the Alcibiades S. (G1) and finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1); and the farm’s colt Funtastic won the United Nations S. (G1). In 2019, Structor—from the first crop of the farm’s stallion Palace Malice—won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and was named an Eclipse Award finalist for 2-year-old male. Structor sold for $850,000 at the 2019 OBS March 2-year-old sale. Also in 2019, Guarana—bred by Three Chimneys and co-owned with Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm—won the Acorn and the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and was named an Eclipse finalist in the 3-year-old filly category. In 2020, she added the Grade 1 Madison S. to her resume.
Volatile—an $850,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase—won the Alfred Vanderbilt S. (G1) at Saratoga in 2020 and joined the Three Chimneys stallion roster in 2021.
Three Chimneys-bred Graded stakes winners include Early Voting, undefeated winner of the Withers S. (G3); homebred fillies Twenty Carat, winner of the Beaumont S. (G3), and Royal Approval, winner of the Matron S. (G3); Three Chimneys’ King Fury, winner of the Lexington S. (G3), Bourbon Trail S., and Street Sense S., was raced in partnership with Fern Circle Stables; multiple Graded Stakes winner Envoutante, who captured the 2020 and 2021 edition of the Falls City S. (G2), along with the Remington Park Oaks (G3), raced in partnership with Walking L Thoroughbreds. Other notable Graded Stakes winners campaigned by the farm include Made You Look and Rainha Da Bateria.
Among the farm’s Graded stakes horses are Princesa Carolina, Magic Dance, Gun It, Much Better, Tomato Bill, and Always Carina, all bred and owned by the farm; as well as Lady Zuzu, Cara Marie, and Princesa Caroline who were purchased and raced by the farm. Stakes winners bred by Three Chimneys include Fast Scene, Princesinha Julia, and Mundaye Call who set a new track record in the Audubon Oaks clocking 7 furlongs in 1:21.17.
Following their successful careers, both Gun Runner and Funtastic joined the Three Chimneys’ stallion roster. In his freshman year as a sire, Gun Runner was the leading First-Crop Sire and Leading Sire of 2YOs worldwide. He broke the record for freshman sire earnings, previously established by Uncle Mo, with earnings of over $3.8 million in 2021. In addition, Gun Runner has sired 9 first-crop stakes winners, including undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Eclipse Champion 2YO Filly Echo Zulu.
