Dogwood Stable's Aikenite , a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Yes It's True, has been purchased privately for stallion duty by Calumet Farm in Lexington.
A stud fee has not been announced by Calumet, the historic farm recently purchased by an investment group and rented to billionaire Brad Kelley, who owns Hurricane Hall and Bluegrass Hall.
"Aikenite will begin his breeding career in the barn where such greats as Citation, Alydar, Bull Lea and other immortals of the turf have stood," said Cot Campbell, president of Dogwood. "He deserves a high-class headquarters, and there could be no more prestigious spot than Calumet."
Aikenite was retired from racing Oct. 29, when he re-injured an ankle while preparing for a stakes race at Churchill Downs. The bay earned $875,385 in his career, with five wins, four seconds, and three thirds from 23 starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. His best distances were from seven furlongs to a mile.
"He's been a lovely horse for Dogwood—happily enough, named for our hometown of Aiken, South Carolina," Campbell said. "Aikenite has been reliable, uncomplicated, and is what a Thoroughbred race horse is supposed to look like."
Dogwood bought Aikenite for $225,000 at the 2009 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s February sale of 2-year-olds in training from Eisaman Bloodstock, agent. His time of :20 2/5 was the fastest for a quarter mile at the sale.
The colt won as a 2-year-old at first asking at Saratoga Race Course. He then ran third in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at the Spa and second in the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity (gr. I) at Keeneland. He was fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
At 3, Aikenite placed in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park and The Cliff's Edge Derby Trial Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill. As a 4-year-old he captured the Commonwealth Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland and the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II), both at seven furlongs. He placed in that year's Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga and the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland.
Aikenite was bred in Florida by BryLynn Farm and is out of the Saint Ballado mare Silverlado.
"He was a joy to campaign. He ran against the best for four years and earned a reputation as an earnest, generous, tenacious race horse. Dogwood will miss him!" Campbell said.
