Graded stakes winners Purim and Storm Surge will stand in 2008 at Nathan Fox's Richland Hills near Midway. Ky.
Storm Surge, a 5-year-old son of Storm Cat, is standing the Southern Hemisphere season at La Mission Stallion Station in Argentina. He is owned by La Mission and Richland Hills in partnership with Overbrook Farm and Taylor Made Farm. His 2008 fee is $7,500.
Storm Surge, who raced as an Overbrook homebred, won or placed in 13 of 24 races and earned $473,223. As a 2-year-old, Storm Surge won at 4 1/2 furlongs his first time out and was beaten a neck in the Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) in his second start. He won the Lone Star Park Juvenile Stakes and Sugar Bowl Stakes that year.
As a 3-year-old, Storm Surge captured the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) and placed in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II), the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) and Risen Star (gr. III) stakes, and the Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap. He was stakes-placed in 2006.
Out of the winning Mr. Prospector mare Especially, Storm Surge is bred similarly to major sire Tale of the Cat (by Storm Cat out of a Mr. Prospector mare). He is a half-brother to grade II winner Boston Common and is from the female family of sire Devil's Bag, Rahy, Saint Ballado, and Singspiel.
Purim, a 5-year-old son of Dynaformer, will continue to race this year for breeder/owner E.J. Sukley before entering stud. He has won or placed in 11 of 18 races and earned $522,093.
Purim won the 2005 Arlington Classic Stakes (gr. IIIT) in his third start to remain unbeaten and then was beaten a nose in the American Derby (gr. IIT). His other stakes wins came in the 2006 Razorback Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) and Avers Wexler Illinois Owners Stakes on turf, and in this year's Colonel E.R. Bradley Handicap on grass.
Fox stood leading sire Dynaformer at his former Central Kentucky farm, Wafare Farm. "I've been looking for a son of Dynaformer to stand at Richland, and I feel he's the right one," Fox said.
Purim is the first foal from the stakes-placed Lord At War mare Kirsteena and is from the female family of the great Dr. Fager.
A fee will be announced later.
