Frank Stronach plans to close his Adena Springs South stallion operation near Williston, Fla., and relocate some of the stallions to either Adena Springs near Paris, Ky., or Gardiner Farms (Dr. Michael Colterjohn, president) near Caledon East, Ontario, Canada.
“The decision to move the Adena South stallions to Canada and Kentucky was not an easy one," Stronach said. "We will continue to aggressively pursue stallion prospects that fit our program, and will not hesitate to put our Florida facilities to use again for the right stallion or stallions in the future. Our goal is to remain North America’s leading breeder, and we feel that we will be able to best accomplish that goal at this time by strengthening our position in Kentucky and adding to our emerging roster in Canada. Our facilities and personnel in Williston are second to none, and we will continue to raise all of the Adena Springs weanlings and yearlings there, as we have done for the past several years. We will also continue to open our facility to boarders for breaking and training so that our customers can enjoy the Adena advantage that comes from our first class facilities and people. Adena Springs South is, and will remain, a key part of our overall program.”
The stallions that will be moving from Florida to Gardiner, joining other Adena stallions Sligo Bay and Silent Name , are 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Alphabet Soup(Cozzene—Illiterate, by Arts and Letters), multiple grade I winner Milwaukee Brew (Wild Again—Ask Anita, by Wolf Power), and graded winner Olmodavor (A.P. Indy—Corrazona, by El Gran Senor). New stallion Giant Gizmo (Giant's Causeway —Golden Antigua, by Hansel) also will stand in Canada.
“Last year, we moved Sligo Bay (from Florida) and Silent Name (from Kentucky) to Canada, and we were very pleased with the results,” Stronach said. “Sligo Bay is the leading third-crop sire in Canada, and Silent Name has been very popular with Ontario breeders. We are very optimistic about the future of racing in Ontario, and we are going to take advantage of the incentives offered by that program.”
The Adena Springs South stallions that will be moving to Kentucky are 2000 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Red Bullet(Unbridled—Cargo, by Caro), grade I winner Showing Up(Strategic Mission—Miss Alethia, by T.V. Commercial), and 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Wilko (Awesome Again —Native Roots, by Indian Ridge). New sire Singing Saint (El Prado-- Relaxing Rhythm, by Easy Goer) will stand in Kentucky.
Adena Springs South also stood Aristocrat (Awesome Again—Baby Zip, by Relaunch) and Greatness (Mr. Prospector—Harbour Club, by Danzig) in 2009. It has not yet been determined where either stallion will stand. Aristocrat is owned by Adena Springs, and Greatness is owned by the Greatness Syndicate. Another stallion, Indy King, was scheduled to stand in 2009 at Adena Springs South but instead stood at Indiana Stallion Station in Indiana.
According to Adena Springs Kentucky general manager Eric Hamelback, plans are being made to move the stallions headed to Kentucky prior to the Keeneland November breeding stock sale and the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale for inspection by potential breeders. Both sales open Nov. 10.
The stallions destined for Gardiner are scheduled to arrive prior to the Nov. 28 Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society mixed sale.
