Grade I winner and international stallion Geri has been permanently pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement center near Georgetown, Ky.
Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends, made the announcement Sept. 12.
Now 21, Geri is the sixth stallion bred in North America that has been repatriated from overseas stud duty by the non-profit organization.
Raced as a homebred by Allen E. Paulson and trained by Bill Mott, Geri (Theatrical-Garimpeiro, by Mr. Prospector) entered the spotlight with his victory in the 1996 Creme Fraiche Handicap (gr. III). The chestnut colt earned his first grade I later that year in the Oaklawn Handicap.
Geri went on to capture the Woodbine Mile (then ungraded, now Can-IT) and the Citation Handicap (gr. IIT) in 1997 before finishing his career with a total of nine wins and earnings of $1,707,980.
Entering stud at Paulson's Brookside Farms in Kentucky, Geri later stood in both Japan and Italy. His progeny includes the multiple stakes-winning mare Bedanken, Japanese millionaire Lucky Break, and champion steeplechaser Party Airs.
Geri is also the sire of A. P. Slew, another Old Friends retiree.
"Two years ago, Sylvia Stiller, our office manager, visited Geri in Italy and adored him," said Blowen. "I also remember him very fondly as a gorgeous and successful race horse. I contacted Andrea Brancini at Horse America, the international equine shipping service, and he worked on all the arrangements once Geri became available.
"We're very grateful to Andrea, Alfred Nuckols, Jr. of Hurstland Farm, Sallee Vans, which shipped the horse from New York, and to all of Geri's fans who made his journey home possible," Blowen added.
For more information about Geri or any of the retirees at Old Friends, contact the farm at (502) 863-1775 or viisit the Old Friends website.
