Mr. Sekiguchi, a Storm Cat son who sold for $8 million at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale, has been retired to stud at Hill 'n Dale Farm near Lexington, Ky. The chestnut colt will stand for $5,000 live foal.
Out of Welcome Surprise, a half-sister to A.P. Indy, Mr. Sekiguchi won twice and was second twice in four starts. He ran 1:08.53 in a six-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita in January that he lost by a neck. Trainer Bob Baffert said in a statement that a tibia injury forced the colt to the sidelines before he got a chance to win a major race.
"We have had fantastic luck with this type of horse," said John G. Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale Farms, in a prepared statement. "He is a really fast son of Storm Cat and was an $8 million yearling from the immediate family of A.P. Indy. It doesn¹t get any better than that."