Grade I winner and top sire Yonaguskawill relocate to Elite Thoroughbreds in Folsom, La., for the 2009 breeding season. The 11-year-old son of Cherokee Run previously stood at Dr. Tom Simon’s Vinery near Lexington, Ky.
In his first three crops to race, Yonaguska has sired 155 winners including 73 juvenile winners, and his progeny have earned just shy of $8 million. In 2008 he ranked second by winners and eighth by earnings on the list of leading third-crop sires. Among his class of entering sires, Yonagusaka has consistently finished among the top eight sires by progeny earnings since the first crop reached the races in 2006. He has sired 20 stakes horses to date, including stakes winners Chief’s Lake, Digger, Cherokee Country, and undefeated 3-year-old Musket Man, winner of the Pasco S. at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 17.
"We are excited to get a stallion of this quality for our Louisiana program," said Michelle Rodriquez co-owner and manager of Elite Thoroughbreds. "His percentage of winners from runners is incredible,"
Tom Ludt, general manager for Vinery, said, "I am impressed with Michelle’s operation and she has done very well with Brahms. We just sent Fire Slam to her, and we know Yonaguska will be very well received by the breeders. The Louisiana program is growing and we are very pleased to be involved with breeding and racing there."
The 2009 stud fee for Yonaguska will be $4,000 live foal, payable when the foal stands and nurses.