WinStar Farm has acquired an interest in all four stallions — BELLAMY ROAD
(Concerto), SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), ARTIE SCHILLER (El Prado [Ire]) and U S
RANGER (Danzig) — from Pauls Mill and will relocate them to WinStar for the
2012 breeding season.
“We are extremely excited about these four young stallion prospects, which
Ben Walden has already done a fabulous job developing,” said Kenny Troutt, owner
of WinStar Farm. “Ben has a God-given talent to see the potential in a young
stallion prospect, and Bellamy Road is his latest success story. Ben will stay
involved and continue to have a significant interest in all of these stallions’
futures.”
Bellamy Road and Artie Schiller both have second crops racing in 2011, and
both have already enjoyed success from their progeny. Bellamy Road currently
stands third on the second-crop sires list and has sired four graded stakes
winners to date, including Wood Memorial S. (G1) winner Toby’s Corner and
undefeated Grade 2 winner Position Limit. His second crop already includes the
undefeated two-year-old filly Georgie’s Angel, recent winner of the
Schuylerville S. (G3) at Saratoga. Artie Schiller has eight stakes horses to
date, led by Grade 1 performer Mr. Commons, who recently captured the Oceanside
S. at Del Mar.
Summer Bird, the champion three-year-old colt of 2009, and U S Ranger stood
their first and second years, respectively, in 2011.
“This was a rare opportunity to buy into four promising young stallions at
the upswing of their careers,” said Elliott Walden, President and CEO of WinStar.
“We tested the proven-sire market last year when we acquired Harlan’s Holiday,
and he was our most popular stallion in 2011. We’re hoping for similar results
from Bellamy Road and Artie Schiller.”
Ben Walden, the elder brother to Elliott, will continue to own and operate
Pauls Mill as a Thoroughbred farm, but will no longer stand stallions.
“It will be rewarding to see the work we have begun with these four stallions
meld into the exciting future of WinStar,” Ben Walden said. “I look forward to
serving them going forward as WinStar seeks future opportunities in the stallion
business.
“Bellamy Road is a sensational young stallion. What more could he have done
to now? Artie Schiller was truly a top miler and we’re seeing his first crop of
three-year-olds flourish like we expected them to,” he added. “When I think of
Summer Bird I think of his extraordinary physique, which most top stallions
possess, and his exceptional female family includes Tapit. What I love about U S
Ranger is his undefeated two-year-old season coupled with his miler speed and
sire’s pedigree. The future is bright for all of them.”
WinStar will announce 2012 stud fees at a later date.