Marquetry to Hill 'n' Dale; Fee $7,500

Marquetry, sire of two Breeders' Cup winners, arrived Tuesday at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Lexington from Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery near Lexington. According to Sikura, 17-year-old Marquetry will stand for $7,500, down from $12,500 in 2004.

Marquetry, a grade I winner and millionaire, has sired 20 stakes winners, 24 stakes-placed runners, and the earners of $23.3 million. Two sons, Artax in 1999, and Squirtle Squirt two years later, were both Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winners and champion sprinters.

Marquetry, whose first crop contained six stakes winners, reached the $3.4 million mark in progeny earnings from 1999 though 2002 and sired the earners of $2.8 million in 2003. His progeny earnings for this year are $2.4 million.

As a racehorse, Marquetry hit the seven-figure mark two separate seasons on his way to $2.8 million in lifetime earnings. His big wins came in the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I), Meadowlands Cup (gr. I), and Eddie Read (gr. IT) Handicaps. A son of Conquistador Cielo, Marquetry was produced from the Vice Regent mare Regent's Walk.