Stakes Winner Marino Marini to Rancho San Miguel in California

Marino Marini, an Irish stakes winner and grade I stakes-placed at Santa Anita, has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Tom and Nancy Clark's Rancho San Miguel near San Miguel, Calif. A $1.8 million Keeneland September yearling, the 4-year-old son of Storm Cat will stand for $10,000 live foal.

Named after a 20th century Italian sculptor/painter whose major subject was horses, Marino Marini proved a solid sprinter against U.S. graded competition following his arrival from Ireland last year. After winning at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass in 1:03.54 at Hollywood Park in his first U.S. start, he came close to winning the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita, beaten a head by Southern Image in a runner-up effort, with Midas Eyes third. He also finished a length behind the winner while second in both the Palos Verdes (gr. II) and Los Angeles Times (gr. III) Handicaps in California and was third in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.

Marino Marini won or placed in five stakes in Ireland and England during the first part of his racing career. His stakes-placings included efforts in the Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix (Ire-I), Kerry Group Ballyogan (Ire-III), and Norfolk (Eng-III) Stakes.

Marino Marini, who was produced from grade I winner and millionaire Halo America (by Waquoit), came out of his last race, the Sept. 6 Pirate's Bounty Handicap, with a wrenched ankle. Clark said Marino Marini would have needed a 60-day rest, and since it was decided to stand him in 2005 anyway, it was decided to retire him. Marino Marini exited racing with three wins from 16 starts and earnings of $294,384.