Recently retired grade II winner Kettle Corn will enter stud for the 2014 season at Kim and Lori Williams' Fair Winds Farm near Waynesville, Ohio.
C R K Stable's Kettle Corn, by Candy Ride , will stand for $3,000 (stands and nurses). The stallion deal was brokered by Oracle Bloodstock.
Trainer John Sadler said Kettle Corn, who retired from racing because of a ligament injury, is a talented horse who ran hard in every race.
"He has exceptional balance and is a very correct horse that I think has many of the intangibles needed to make a sire," Sadler said. "The speed that he could finish his races with is a rarity today. I know the owners and myself will be supporting him at stud. I don't know much about the Ohio program but they are getting one very talented stallion prospect."
Kettle Corn won this year's San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar and the 2011 Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) at Betfair Hollywood Park. He registered wins on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces, and retired with earnings of $853,361.
Kim Williams is looking forward to the addition of Kettle Corn, noting that things are looking up in Ohio since the addition of video lottery terminals at state tracks.
"We are just beyond excited to be able to stand a horse like this at our farm. I can't think of a more talented racehorse to ever retire to Ohio," Williams said. "He won a grade II and grade III and was second twice this year in grade I races to Game On Dude.
"He is going to be an amazing value to breeders in the region when you consider he defeated the likes of grade I winners Paynter , Richard's Kid , Dullahan, Jeranimo, Jaycito, Liaison , and Awesome Gem."
Kettle Corn will participate in the Share the Upside program, which allows breeders to earn a lifetime breeding right in the stallion by breeding one mare on a stands and nurses basis each of his first two years at stud, with no bills or obligations going forward.
Out of the Lil E. Tee mare Somethingbeautiful, Kettle Corn was bred in Kentucky by Jim Plemmons, who raced him during his early career.