Sandman (horse)

Last updated

Sandman
Sandman.webp
Sandman parading before the Preakness Stakes
Sire Tapit
Grandsire Pulpit
DamDistorted Music
Damsire Distorted Humor
Sex Colt
Foaled (2022-02-27) February 27, 2022 (age 3) [1]
CountryUnited States
Color Gray
BreederLothenbach Stables at Chesapeake Farm(Drew Nardiello)
OwnerD. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds & CJ Stables
Trainer Mark E. Casse
Record11: 3 - 1 - 3
EarningsUS$1,494,595 [2]
Major wins
Arkansas Derby (2025)
Last updated on July 27, 2025

Sandman (foaled February 27, 2022) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in 2025 as a three-year-old. [2]

Contents

Background

Sandman is a gray colt that was bred in Kentucky by Robert Lothenbach of Lothenbach Stables. He was sired by Tapit, the leading sire in the US in 2014, 2015 and 2016. [3] Tapit stands at Gainesway Farm for $185,000 in 2025. Sandman is out of the Distorted Humor mare Distorted Music and is owned by D. J. Stable, St Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables. [4] Sandman's dam Distorted Music has produced three winners including She Can't Sing, who won the Grade III Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2022. [4]

Sandman was sold for $1,200,000 at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training on consignment as part of a complete dispersal for his breeder, Lothenbach Stables. The dispersal followed Bob Lothenbach of Lothenbach Stables' death in November 2023 at age 64. [4]

A recent dispute over the naming of Sandman may prove that Sandman was named after a common advert slogan used in a commercial for the Waterbed Emporium - "Tell 'em the Sandman sent ya!". The Waterbed Emporium is a famous furniture retailer based in Cleveland, Ohio, which has links to the family of former Guns N' Roses drummer, Steven Adler. Social media influencers claim Sandman was named for the 1991 Metallica song "Enter Sandman" as a nod to Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera's entrance song. [5]

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGradeTrackOddsFieldFinishWinning
Time
Winning
(Losing)
Margin
JockeyRef
2024 Two-year-old season
Jun 27, 2024 Churchill Downs 751:09.97 Jose Ortiz [6]
Aug 10, 2024 Saratoga 711:23.62 Dylan Davis [7]
Sep 14, 2024 Iroquois Stakes Churchill Downs 1151:36.08 Jose Ortiz [8]
Oct 27, 2024 Street Sense Stakes Churchill Downs 931:43.86 Brian Hernandez Jr. [9]
Dec 13, 2024Allowance Optional Claiming Oaklawn Park 911:38.71Cristian Torres [10]
2025 Three-year-old season
Jan 25, 2025 Southwest Stakes Oaklawn Park 921:45.86Cristian Torres [11]
Feb 23, 2025 Rebel Stakes Oaklawn Park 1331:43.01Cristian Torres [12]
Mar 29, 2025 Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park 911:50.08 Jose Ortiz [13]
May 3, 2025 Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs1972:02.31 Jose Ortiz [14]
May 17, 2025 Preakness Stakes Pimlico 931:55.47 John R. Velazquez [15]
July 26, 2025 Jim Dandy Stakes Saratoga 6.70551:49.52 Jose Ortiz [16]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Sandman was the post-time favorite.

    Pedigree

    Pedigree of Sandman, Gray colt, February 27, 2023 [1]
    Sire
    Tapit
    (2001)
    Pulpit
    (1994)
    A.P. Indy
    (1989)
    Seattle Slew (1974)
    Weekend Surprise (1980)
    Preach
    (1989)
    Mr Prospector (1970)
    Narrate (1980)
    Tap Your Heels
    (1996)
    Unbridled
    (1987)
    Fappiano (1977)
    Gana Facil (1981)
    Ruby Slippers
    (1982)
    Nijinsky II (CAN) (1967)
    Moon Glitter (1972)
    Dam
    Distorted Music
    (2010)
    Distorted Humor
    (1993)
    Forty Niner
    (1985)
    Mr Prospector (1970)
    File (1976)
    Danzig's Beauty
    (1987)
    Danzig (1977)
    Sweetest Chant (1978)
    Music Room
    (2003)
    Unbridled's Song
    (1993)
    Unbridled (1987)
    Trolley Song (1983)
    Note Musicale (GB)
    (1995)
    Sadler's Wells (1981)
    It's In The Air (1976) (family 4-k) [17]

    *Sandman is inbred 3S x 4D to the stallion Unbridled, meaning that he appears third generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

    * Sandman is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Mr Prospector, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

    References

    1. 1 2 "Pedigree of Sandman". Equineline. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    2. 1 2 "Profile of Sandman". Equibase. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
    3. "Leading Sire Lists". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
    4. 1 2 3 King, Byron (March 30, 2025). "Enter Sandman: Tapit Colt Wins Arkansas Derby, KY-Bound; Publisher closed to grab second, ahead of Coal Battle in third". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    5. Reilly, Kellie (April 25, 2025). "Tales from the Crib: Sandman". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
    6. "Chart for Maiden Special Weight June 27, 2024 at Churchill Downs - race 3". www.equibase.com. June 27, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    7. "Chart for Maiden Special Weight August 10, 2024 at Saratoga - race 1". www.equibase.com. August 10, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    8. "Iroquois Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". equibase. September 14, 2024. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
    9. "2024 Street Sense Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. October 27, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
    10. "Oaklawn Park: Allowance Optional Claiming - (race 7)". Equibase. December 13, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
    11. "2025 Southwest Stakes Grade 3 – (race 10)". Equibase. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
    12. "2025 Rebel Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11)". Equibase. February 23, 2025. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
    13. "2025 Arkansas Derby Grade 1 – (race 13)". Equibase. March 29, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
    14. "2025 Kentucky Derby Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
    15. "2025 Preakness Stakes Grade 1 - (race 13)". Equibase. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
    16. "Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun Grade 2". Equibase. July 26, 2025. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
    17. "Sweet Hawthorn – Family 4-k". www.bloodlines.net. Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved April 1, 2025.