Ten-year-old Saarland, a grade II winner as a homebred for Cynthia Phipps, has been pensioned from stallion duty because of fertility problems. The son of Unbridled last stood at John Phillips’ Darby Dan Farm near Lexington.
Saarland’s percentage of live foals from his 2005 matings in his first year at stud was 75%. It slipped to 56% in 2006, and then to 49% in 2007. Saarland did not cover any mares in 2008.
As a racehorse, Saarland won the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at 2 at Aqueduct and placed in five stakes, all graded in New York, over the next three years. He retired with five wins from 21 races and earnings of $595,250. Saarland was produced from the grade I stakes-winning Danzig mare Versailles Treaty.
Saarland has been taken to the University of California-Davis for an examination. He later will be sent to Jess Jackson’s California farm. Jackson, who owns Stonestreet Farm near Lexington, is a part owner of Saarland.
Saarland has sired seven winners from his first crop of foals, including 2008 grade I stakes-placed Collegiate.