Midshipman , champion 2-year-old male of 2008 and winner of that year’s Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I), has been retired from racing and will stand his first season at Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley near Lexington in 2011. A fee will be announced later.
“Midshipman defeated the best of his generation while proving himself on both dirt and synthetic surfaces,” said Darley chief operating officer Olly Tait. “We couldn't be more excited to have a champion 2-year-old with his kind of looks and pedigree joining our roster in 2011.”
In the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Midshipman defeated a field that included Mine That Bird and Pioneerof the Nile , the one-two finishers in the 2009 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Also at 2, Midshipman won the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and finished second in the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I). He was assigned top weight of 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for 2-year-old males.
In late 2008, Midshipman was sent to Dubai to prepare for his 3-year-old season. He didn’t race aboard and was returned to the United States in 2009. Following his return, he won at Belmont Park in September and then was beaten three-quarters of a length in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) while third.
Returned to Dubai after the Dirt Mile, Midshipman raced twice this year, winning one of two starts while carrying 131 pounds. He retired with five wins and two placings from eight races and earnings of $1,584,600.
A Kentucky-bred son of Unbridled's Song, Midshipman initially raced for his breeder, Robert and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Stable. Acquired by Sheikh Mohammed, Midshipman made his first start in the Darley silks in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in what was his last start at 2. He was trained throughout his 2-year-old season by Bob Baffert.
Midshipman is out of the Avenue of Flags mare Fleet Lady, a multiple grade II winner and grade I stakes-placed. Midshipman is a half brother to grade II winner Fast Cookie.
“We look forward to showing Midshipman and fellow new recruit for 2011, Desert Party , to breeders during the Keeneland September yearling sale and in the months to come,” said Tait.
