Millennium Farms announced Nov. 6 that 4-year-old Zanjero, the leading money-earner by Cherokee Run with over $1.6 million, will join its stallion roster for the 2009 breeding season. Zanjero will stand for a fee of $10,000 live foal.
"Zanjero is a great addition to our roster," said Ro Parra, owner of Millennium Farms. "Zanjero is an outstanding physical specimen by champion Cherokee Run, himself the sire of champions War Pass and Chilukki, out of a young, 100% stakes-producing A.P. Indymare. He was versatile, with graded stakes wins on dirt and synthetic, and precocious at 2 when placed in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II). We look forward to working with Ron Winchell to offer Zanjero to breeders in 2009."
Purchased for $700,000 by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC at the Keeneland September yearling sale, Zanjero is Cherokee Run's highest-priced progeny ever sold. He earned $1,620,786 and finished in the money in 16 of 18 starts. He competed in 13 graded events and was in the money in 11 of those. As a 2-year-old, he broke his maiden on Keeneland's Polytrack, then won an allowance at Churchill Downs, defeating grade I winner First Defence. He then ran second to Nobiz Like Showbiz in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) at Aqueduct.
“We enjoyed Zanjero's great racing career and now look forward to the next phase of his life,” said Ron Winchell, who raced Zanjero and will retain an interest in the horse during his breeding career. “We raced Tapit , too, and he is off to a great start at stud, and we plan to support Zanjero just like we did Tapit.”
As a 3-year-old, Zanjero competed well against the best of his generation, including a grade I placing in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), beaten a head in a blanket finish with Dominican and Street Sense. Trained by Steve Asmussen, Zanjero capped off this year with a stylish win in the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II) Sept. 27 on Turfway's Polytrack.
“He was a versatile and top-class horse his whole career,” said Asmussen. “He's a gorgeous horse with a great pedigree. He worked with Curlin all last year and never backed off and made over $1 million at the races. He always traveled well and was very sound and consistent. He's a very exciting stallion prospect.”
Zanjero will stand as the property of a partnership that will include Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, joining Even The Score , Scrimshaw, Shaniko, Student Council, Will He Shine, and Woke Up Dreamin at Millennium Farms. Zanjero and all the Millennium Farms stallions are available for inspection, and will also be featured at the “Sire Power Meets Brain Power” fund-raiser for Tubby's Clubhouses Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Millennium Farms. For more information, visit www.millenniumfarms.com.