The Korean Racing Authority announced Sept. 29 its purchase of grade I winner Officer for an undisclosed price from Taylor Made Stallions in Central Kentucky.
“He will be sent to KRA’s farm on Jeju Island,” said Irish bloodstock agent John McCormack, who brokered the deal.
The KRA has been actively acquiring North American stallions. Officer will stand alongside Peace Rules, Exploit, Commendable, Volponi, Yankee Victor, Menifee, Vicar, Forest Camp, Pico Central, Hawk Wing, and One Cool Cat.
“I think the Koreans got a great horse at a great price,” said Ben Taylor, vice president at Taylor Made Stallions Inc. “I mean, this horse has a grade I winner this year who may be a favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I). “
Officer is the sire of Boys At Tosconova , winner of the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) and second in the Kentucky Juvenile (gr. III).
Officer (Bertrando—St. Helens Shadow, by Septieme Ciel) has sired four graded stakes winners among 20 stakes winners. His total progeny earnings are $14.5 million.
Campaigned by The Thoroughbred Corp. and trained by Bob Baffert, Officer was one of the top 2-year-olds of 2001, scoring major wins in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) and the Del Mar Futurity (gr. II). He went off as the odds-on choice in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) but ran fifth, losing all hope for an Eclipse Award.
Officer began his stallion career at Graham J. Beck’s Gainesway Farm near Lexington and got off to a hot start. He finished fourth on the 2006 first-crop sires’ list. He was moved to Taylor Made for the 2007 breeding season.