Istan, winner of the Nov. 3 Ack Ack Handicap (gr. III) by 8 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs, has been purchased by Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud. Plans call for the 5-year-old son of Gone Westto enter stud at the Midway, Ky., farm in 2008. Istan, who might run in the Nov. 24 Hill 'n' Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) at Aqueduct, has won nine of 20 races and earned $434,863
Istan came within about a half-second of the track record in winning the mile Ack Ack in 1:34.08 over millionaire Sun King. He registered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure and 0 Ragozin Sheet number in the process.
"His last race showed the true brilliance that we look for in a stallion prospect, and his 111 Beyer and 0 Ragozin numbers showed it was every bit as impressive as it appeared visually," said Jones' son, Bret. "He is the right physical package as well--a good size, very well-balanced and correct with a very attractive head and eye. He's a graded stakes winner on both dirt and Polytrack."
Formerly owned by Dario Hinojosa's Darpat S.L. Stables, Istan won four other stakes this year, including the Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes (gr. III). He earned 107 Beyers in winning the Artax and Governor's Handicaps. In his second start this year, he finished second to Lawyer Ron in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Bred in Kentucky by Hinojosa, Istan is out of the Bluebird mare Ronda, who was a group II winner in England and grade I stakes-placed at Belmont Park. His third dam, Memory Lane, is a full sister to European great Mill Reef.