Grade II winner Neko Bay has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2011 at John Greely IV’s Wintergreen Stallion Station near Midway, Ky. The 7-year-old son of Giant's Causeway is currently being syndicated. His stud fee will be announced later.
A winner on dirt and synthetic surfaces, Neko Bay raced for his breeders, Jerry and Ann Moss, and was trained by John Shirreffs. This year, Neko Bay won the San Pasqual Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita and then was a fast-closing second to Misremembered in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) in March in his final start. Rallying from 14 lengths back, Neko Bay battled to within a half-length of the winner at the finish and recorded a 102 Brisnet speed figure. Overall, he finished first or second in 11 of 14 races and earned $473,020.
“He is an accomplished runner with a stallion’s pedigree, by one of the best sires in the world, and a family that includes some of the best racehorses and sires of recent years,” Greely said. “He has settled in very well at the farm with much interest in his syndication.”
Neko Bay is out of the grade II stakes-winning Rubiano mare Brulay, who is a half sister to champion and prominent sire Lemon Drop Kid . Neko Bay’s second dam, Charming Lassie (by Seattle Slew), is a half sister to Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise, dam of major sires A.P. Indy and Summer Squall.