Plans for recent Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Drosselmeyer were
finalized on Friday, and the four-year-old son of Distorted Humor has been
officially retired to stud and will stand his first season in 2012 at WinStar
Farm in Versailles, Kentucky, for a fee of $17,500 stands and nurses.
“Drosselmeyer came out of the Classic so good that it gave us cause for
pause,” said Elliott Walden, President & CEO of WinStar Farm. “We knew he had
what it took to be one of the top older horses in the country, and I think we
saw that with how he came to hand in his last two starts. So it made for a
difficult decision. We took some time to think about all of our options, and we
came to the conclusion that it was best for both Drosselmeyer and WinStar Farm
to retire him and go out as a Breeders’ Cup Classic champion.”
Drosselmeyer joined A.P. Indy as the only two horses in history to win the
Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic. He also added his name to an
elite list of just seven horses to win a Triple Crown race and the Breeders’ Cup
Classic, including such names as A.P. Indy, Unbridled, Sunday Silence and Curlin.
“Drosselmeyer has always been a superstar since we saw him as a weanling, and
we couldn’t be more proud of him showing up with his best on racing’s biggest
day to give WinStar our first Breeders’ Cup Classic win,” Walden added. “During
the Triple Crown last year, many analysts thought he gave us the best chance to
win the Kentucky Derby. I will never forget Lisa Troutt walking him into the
winner’s circle at the Belmont. We’re thrilled to be able to keep him at WinStar
for his stud career.”
With earnings of $3,728,170, Drosselmeyer is the all-time leading earner for
his champion sire Distorted Humor. He hails from the Grade 1-winning mare Golden
Ballet. WinStar purchased Drosselmeyer for $600,000 as a yearling at Keeneland
September from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales and breeder Aaron and Marie
Jones.
Drosselmeyer is at WinStar Farm and will be available immediately for
inspection.