Irish champion U S Ranger has been retired from racing and will stand at Ben P. Walden Jr.’s Pauls Mill near Versailles, Ky., in 2010.
Walden purchased 5-year-old U S Ranger from breeder Joe Allen, who raced the son of Danzig with Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Magnier’s husband, John Magnier, is the managing partner of Coolmore Stud in Ireland. Allen has retained an interest in U S Ranger. Coolmore also is a partner in the U S Ranger’s stallion career.
Undefeated in three starts at 2 in France, U S Ranger opened his 3-year-old campaign in France with a four-length victory in the seven-furlong Prix Djebel in stakes-record time. He next ran in the Stan James Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) at a mile, finishing unplaced but only 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The following year, he was beaten a head in the Darley July Cup (Eng-I) at six furlongs.
A Kentucky-bred, U S Ranger made his first Northern American start in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT), finishing fifth, four lengths behind winner Goldikova. This year, he ran a close third in the Inglewood Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hollywood Park.
U S Ranger, whose dam, My Annette (by Red Ransom), is a half-sister to major sire Dynaformer, was Ireland’s high-weighted sprinter at 3 and 4. He won or placed in 10 of 19 races and earned $481,775.
“U S Ranger is a very fast son of Danzig from a half-sister to Dynaformer and was unbeaten at 2,” Walden said. “His stakes-record win in the Prix Djebel was in a race also won by Nureyev, Kingmambo, and Machiavellian, and he is an outstanding physical specimen with exceptional power and balance.”
Walden currently is syndicating U S Ranger.