Maclean's Music , whose 114 Beyer Speed Figure is the highest ever given to a debut winner, has been retired from racing for stallion duty in 2013 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington. The 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor will stand for $6,500 live foal.
"I am excited to announce that Distorted Humor's exceptional son Maclean's Music is the newest addition to the Hill 'n' Dale stallion roster," said farm president John Sikura. "Not since seeing Candy Ride run the mile in 1:31 flat in Argentina have I been so captivated by a racehorse."
Racing as a homebred for Barbara Banke's Stonestreet Stables, Maclean's Music earned his lofty Beyer with a 1:07.44 clocking for six furlongs in his 7 1/4-length score at Santa Anita Park in March 2011 (VIDEO). He set fractions of :21.24, :43.48, and :55.05. The maiden special weight race was his sole start.
Out of grade II winner Forest Music (by Unbridled's Song), Maclean's Music was bred by Banke and her late husband, Jess Jackson, in the name Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
"Maclean's Music was one of Jess' favorite yearlings, so much so we named him after our grandson," Banke said. "Maclean's Music's debut performance allowed the racing and breeding community to share in our excitement and we have the same level of record-setting expectations for his breeding career at Hill 'n' Dale. We will be supporting him with some of our best mares."
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Maclean's Music was ridden by Mike Smith. "I have never sat on a horse that ran that fast and won so easily," Smith said. "He was just cruising, and I never asked him to run, and we went in 1:07 2/5. That was unbelievable. I am certain he was a superstar."
Asmussen agreed, saying, "He was a freak; beyond special; a different breed."
Maclean's Music was retired due to complications from the removal of a fractured splint bone. He is available for inspection.