Kentucky's WinStar Farm and Maryland's Country Life Farm, owned by Josh and Mike Pons, have reached a co-ownership agreement to stand WinStar's homebred colt Cal Nation at the Pons' Merryland Farm near Hydes, Md., for the 2013 breeding season. His fee will be $3,500 live foal.
Grade II stakes-placed Cal Nation is a 4-year-old son of Distorted Humor out of the A.P. Indy mare She's a Winner, making him a half brother to grade I winner and successful sire Bluegrass Cat .
"We intend to breed several mares to Cal Nation and to participate in the Maryland-bred program," said Elliott Walden, president of WinStar, which is owned by Kenny Troutt. "He's by our best stallion and out of our best mare. We named him for University of Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari and the UK fans. This colt has been a favorite of ours from the time he was foaled here."
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Cal Nation broke his maiden by 7 3/4 lengths in his debut at Gulfstream Park in February of his 3-year-old year, going seven furlongs 1:22.20 after setting a 1:09.11 pace for six furlongs.
In his second start, Cal Nation stretched out to a mile, but lost by a nose. In his third start, Cal Nation set the pace in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack in April before tiring. He returned in May at Belmont Park to win a six-furlong allowance by 5 1/2 lengths before placing in the Carry Back Stakes (gr. II) and the Select Stakes. Cal Nation won at Monmouth Park this year at 4, and was retired with 3-2-1 record from nine starts and earnings of $127,884. He recently arrived at Merryland and is available for inspection.
"She's a Winner is out of that great Phipps family of champion Numbered Account," Mike Pons said. "It's also the family of Maryland leading sires Not for Love and Polish Numbers. She's a Winner's full sister, Supercharger, produced the 2010 Kentucky Derby (Presented by Yum! Brands, gr. I) winner Super Saver for WinStar. I think that this is perhaps the best family in America right now."
Breeders whose mares produce a live foal at the advertised stud fee from Cal Nation's first season at stud will be entitled to a complimentary nomination in the stallion's fifth year at stud, after that first crop has raced as 2-year-olds.
For more information on Cal Nation, visit www.countrylifefarm.com or contact Country Life Farm at 410-879-1952.