Fiber Sonde, half-brother to the prominent sire Speightstown and recognized as one of West Virginia’s leading stallions, has passed away at 21 years old. Beau Ridge Farm in Kearneysville, West Virginia, announced the death of this son of Unbridled’s Song on Monday.
Cyndy McKee of Beau Ridge Farm expressed deep sorrow on social media, stating, “My heart is not broken, it’s shattered. The greatest gift that God entrusted us with, he has taken home.”
Bred in Kentucky by Aaron and Marie Jones, Fiber Sonde was foaled a year after Speightstown captured the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and earned the Eclipse Award as champion male sprinter. Despite high hopes, owing to his pedigree as the son of the Canadian champion Storm Cat mare Silken Cat, a paddock injury during his youth prevented him from entering the yearling sales and he never raced, as reported by Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred.
Nevertheless, due to his strong bloodlines, Beau Ridge took a chance on him as a regional stallion, purchasing Fiber Sonde for $8,000 at the 2008 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. In contrast, over 16 crops of runners, Fiber Sonde’s offspring have amassed earnings exceeding $26.5 million.
Beginning his stud career in 2008, Fiber Sonde sired 33 stakes winners, including two graded stakes victors. Among these were Runnin’toluvya, winner of the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in 2019, and Late Night Pow Wow, who won the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks in 2018 and the Grade 3 Barbara Fritchie Stakes in 2019. Late Night Pow Wow also gave Fiber Sonde a notable graded stakes performance by finishing third in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes.
His top earner, Muad’dib, retired in June with $1,128,785 in earnings after 18 wins from 42 starts. Named West Virginia’s Horse of the Year in both 2021 and 2022, Muad’dib secured five stakes victories, including two West Virginia Breeders’ Classic Stakes titles. Muad’dib, a half-sibling to Late Night Pow Wow, also competed admirably against graded stakes competition, finishing second in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in 2022.
Fiber Sonde’s consistent production of stakes competitors made him a fixture atop West Virginia’s sire rankings. He was the state’s leading freshman sire in 2011 and plied his trade among West Virginia’s top 10 sires by progeny earnings every other year. From 2018 through 2023, he dominated as West Virginia’s leading sire by earnings, and in 2024 and 2025, he placed second only to the emerging sire Juba. Currently, in 2026, Fiber Sonde leads West Virginia’s sire list by earnings and boasts the highest number of winners in the state this season, with 30.
This article originally appeared in the Paulick Report’s News section on September 28, 2026. You can add the Paulick Report as a Preferred Source [here].
Fan Take: Fiber Sonde’s death marks the loss of a cornerstone stallion who significantly shaped West Virginia’s racing landscape. His enduring legacy highlights the importance of regional breeding programs in developing competitive racehorses, serving as an inspiration for sustained growth and talent discovery within the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
