Wilko, winner of the 2004 Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), has been purchased by Frank Stronach's Adena Springs. The 5-year-old son of Awesome Again will stand at Adena Springs South near Williston, Fla., for $10,000.
Wilko, who was retired from racing in August, proved exceptionally sound as a 2-year-old, winning or placing in 10 of a dozen starts. Following his Breeders' Cup score for J. Paul Reddam and Susan Roy, he ran a strong third in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I), won by subsequent division champion Declan's Moon. Wilko shared top weight of 126 pounds with Declan's Moon on the Experimental Free Handicap for males and was an Eclipse Award finalist.
"The Breeders' Cup Juvenile has a great history of producing top sires," Stronach said. "Wilko was a multiple grade I performer who displayed incredible brilliance and durability. He competed against the best of his generation on every surface on three continents."
Wilko won or placed in 16 of 29 races and earned $2,435,133. His 11 stakes-placings also included efforts in the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), and Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). As a 2-year-old in England, he placed in five stakes, three of which were group.
Bred in Kentucky by Ro Parra. Wilko was produced from the winning Indian Ridge mare Native Roots. Awesome Again, who has sired two other Breeders' Cup winners, stands at Adena Springs Kentucky near Paris, Ky.