Grade 1-winning millionaire Gayego will enter stud in 2012 at the Hunderup family’s Norse Ridge Farm near King City, Ontario. Gayego comes to Canada through an arrangement brokered by Bernard McCormack’s Cara Bloodstock and will stand for an introductory fee of $6,500 Canadian funds, payable when the foal stands and nurses.
A multiple graded stakes winner of $1,751,120, the son of Gilded Time – Devil’s Lake, by Lost Code, raced at 2 and 3 for Cubanacan Stables and trainer Paulo Lobo before Godolphin acquired him privately prior to his 4-year-old season. At 2, Gayego was a precocious front-running 3-length winner in his 6-furlong career debut at Hollywood Park. At 3, he set a new track record at Hollywood Park, winning the 6 ½-furlong San Pedro S. by 2 ¾ lengths in 1:13.07 before leaving California for a victory the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby.
Gayego made 5 starts in the Godolphin colors at 4, winning three times including the Grade 1 Ancient Title S. at Santa Anita – going 6 furlongs in 1:08.28 – and the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal Dayjur S. In his other two outings at 4, he ran second in the Group 2 Etisalat Godolphin Mile on Dubai World Cup Day and fourth, beaten a neck for first, in the $2,000,000, Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. He won twice at 5, setting another new track record with his 2-length score in the $250,000 Presque Isle Downs Mile while also placing in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs, the Grade 1 Triple Bend H. at Hollywood Park, and the Group 3 Xpress Al Shindagha Sprint S. at Meydan.
Gayego’s sire Gilded Time was an undefeated Eclipse Champion at 2 after three graded stakes wins including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. and placed in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in his 2 starts at 3. His dam, Devil’s Code, is a stakes-winning daughter of millionaire Lost Code. He represents an exceptional outcross for mares from most popular current sire lines, being entirely free of Northern Dancer, Seattle Slew, Mr. Prospector, Blushing Groom (FR), and Roberto breeding.
Gayego will be available for viewing at Keeneland during the November breeding stock sales. Please contact Bernard McCormack during the sales at 859.338.4135 to arrange a visit. Gayego will ship to Canada later this month and may then be seen at Norse Ridge Farm. Please contact Jason LaMarche-Hunderup or Bernard McCormack at 905.886.7882, or by email at Stallions@NorseRidge.com, for additional information.
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