Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Benny the Bull will stand in 2010 at Tom Simon’s Vinery near Summerfield, Fla., according to Vinery president Tom Ludt. The 6-year-old son of Lucky Lionel will stand for $4,000.
Bred in Florida by Tomoka Hills Farms, Benny the Bull was purchased at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale for $38,000 by Greg James. James campaigned Benny the Bull through the early part of his racing career, which included a win in the 2007 Iowa Sprint Handicap in his stakes debut. At that point, James sold a major interest in the colt to a group that included IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone, president). In the IEAH colors later that year, Benny the Bull went on to win the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (gr. I), finish second in the Forego Stakes (gr. I), and run fourth in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II).
In 2008, Benny the Bull went undefeated in four starts. He won the Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park, then shipped to Dubai to take the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I). Returned to the United States, he won the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park and the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Calder Race Course. He was honored with an Eclipse Award and champion older male honors as top sprinter in Dubai.
In 2009, Benny the Bull ran second in the True North and the Smile Sprint. For his career, he won or placed in 14 of 20 starts and earned $2,353,430.
“Benny the Bull has been a dream horse--talented, totally sound, and brilliantly fast,” James said. “I’m very excited about his future at Vinery, and with the stud fee we have decided on, I think he will offer breeders a wonderful opportunity to breed to a champion at a very fair and reasonable price.”
Benny the Bull is out of the stakes-winning Birdonthewire mare Comet Cat.