Lodge Hill, winner of the 2000 Breeders' Stakes for Eugene and Laura Melnyk and Bristow Farms, has been retired and will stand at Norse Ridge Farm near King Township, Ontario, Canada. The 7-year-old son of Cozzene is out of the Caveat mare L'Insatiable. No fee has been announced.In winning the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, run at 1 1/2 miles on turf, Lodge Hill ended the bid of a Triple Crown sweep by Scatter the Gold. In all, Lodge Hill won three of 27 starts, placed four stakes, three of which were graded, and earned $636,734.Lodge Hill was bred in Ontario by Pierre Levesque. Eugene Melnyk purchased Lodge Hill as a yearling for $110,000 out of the 1998 Keeneland September yearling sale where he was consigned by Anderson Farms, agent.At 3, Lodge Hill ran sixth behind Scatter the Gold in the Queen's Plate in just his fifth career starts while still a maiden. He broke his maiden in his next start, going 1 1/4 miles on turf at Belmont Park on July 9, 2000, then returned to Canada to win the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine by three lengths in 2:28.97. Later that year he placed in the Lawrence Realization Handicap (gr. IIIT) and the Rutgers Stakes.At 4, Lodge Hill was winless in nine starts, but did run second in the Connaught Cup Stakes (Can-IIIT) and third in the $1.5 million Canadian International Stakes (gr. IT). He ran in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT), finishing eighth behind Fantastic Light at Belmont Park.Cozzene (Caro -- Ride the Rails, by Prince John) was champion turf male of 1985 and the leading sire in North America by progeny earnings in 1996. He is the sire of more than 60 stakes winners and six champions. His most successful son at stud to date is Alphabet Soup. Up-and-coming sons of Cozzene include Running Stag and Mizzen Mast.L'Insatiable, out of the Northern Dancer mare Drama School, is a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year Norcliffe.Melnyk said he will be supporting Lodge Hill with several of his mares from his Winding Oaks Farm broodmare band.
