Eskendereya to Stand for $30,000

Grade I winner Eskendereya will stand for $30,000 live foal in 2011 at the Taylor family’s Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky. He is owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.

A leading 3-year-old prior to his retirement in May, Eskendereya won all three starts this year, including the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) by 9 3/4 lengths and the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) by 8 1/2 lengths. As a 2-year-old, he captured the Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park by 7 1/4 lengths. He retired with earnings of $725,700.

“There are few horses that showed the type of quality that Eskendereya did on the racetrack,” said Ben Taylor, vice president of Taylor Made Stallions. “He was precocious at 2 and special at 3, with a brilliant mix of speed and stamina. I don't recall a more exciting 3-year-old that was built better for the classics than he was. On top of that, he's a tremendous individual with a true sire's pedigree, bred along the same lines as leading European sire Shamardal and very similar to champion sire Danehill. Further, Eskendereya traces directly back to champion sires Northern Dancer and Halo. All these factors will generate international appeal both in the breeding shed and in the sales ring.”

Eskendereya is by Giant's Causeway out of the multiple stakes-producing Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light, whose third dam is major producer Queen Sucree.

“Eskendereya represents the highest of quality, and we feel that he presents a fantastic opportunity at $30,000,” Jackson said. “He was an elite racehorse--one who captured the imagination unlike any other 3-year-old this year. Physically, he's as grand-looking as a Thoroughbred could be, and it all makes sense when you evaluate his tremendous pedigree. He embodies what is required of a top stallion prospect, and he'll get the full support of Stonestreet.”