RAMONA, Calif. (June 24, 2017) — Longtime California sire Benchmark was euthanized on June 23, 2017 due to the infirmities of old age. Benchmark was the sire of Eclipse champion Points Offthebench and champion racehorses including: Brother Derek, Idiot Proof, Sierra Nights and Bench Points. The son of Alydar had been pensioned since 2014 and living out his retirement in his paddock and stall within the Ballena Vista Farm stallion complex.
Benchmark was a multiple graded stakes winner for owner Martin and Pam Wygod, who purchased him as a weanling for $475,000. He posted a 7-2-4 record from 16 career starts while earning $636,707. His record included three grade II wins in 1997: the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap and San Bernardino Handicap. He also placed second or third in four other graded stakes including the 1998 Triple Bend Invitational Breeders’ Cup Handicap (gr. I).
Benchmark was bred in Kentucky by North Central Bloodstock and was out of the graded stakes-placed Danzig mare Winters’ Love, a half-sister to 1983 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Caveat. He is a half-brother to grade I winner Tranquility Lake, the dam of grade I winners Courageous Cat and After Market and group II winner Jalil.
The leading son at stud by Alydar with $35 million in total progeny earnings, Benchmark began his career at River Edge Farm in 1999, his first crop of 47 foals included five stakes winners; lead by A to the Z, a winner of $629,722. Benchmark sired an average of four stakes winners a year in his first 10 seasons at stud. He moved to Ballena Vista Farm in the summer of 2010 and continued to have annual progeny earnings over $2 million.
Benchmark’s bloodlines will continue to be seen on the racetrack with his sons Idiot Proof and Grazen, both successful sires of stakes horses in California.