"I am very proud of Action This Day's achievements," said Hughes in a released statement. "This colt is an exceptional racehorse and has shown great talent so far. I look forward to continued success with him this year, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work with Castleton Lyons to return him to stand in Kentucky in 2005."Action This Day will join Malibu Moon , one of the leading freshman sires of 2003, at Castleton Lyons, which is located near Lexington."We are excited at the prospect of welcoming Action This Day to Castleton Lyons," said Ryan in a press release. "We wish Mr. Hughes every success with Action This Day's 3-year-old campaign, and we eagerly await his arrival here."
Castleton Lyons, owned by Dr. Tony Ryan, announced Thursday the purchase of a "significant" breeding interest in Action This Day, who recently earned an Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male for 2003.Action This Day, owned by Californian B. Wayne Hughes, is a bay colt by Kris S. out of the Trempolino mare Najecam. Action This Day is the third foal from Najecam, who placed in three graded stakes: the Princess Stakes (gr. II), San Clemente (gr. IIT) and Honeymoon (gr. IIIT) Handicaps. Action This Day will continue to race in Hughes' colors this year and is slated to enter stud in 2005.Kris S., who stood at WinStar Farm near Versailles, Ky. until his death in 2002, was the fourth leading sire of 2003 with $7,675,812 in earnings. His chief earner last year was Epson Derby (Eng-I) winner Kris Kin, who earned more than $1.6 million. Kris S. sired a national high 10 graded stakes winners and five individual grade I winners. His other grade/group I winners were Symboli Kris S, who earned a second Horse of the Year title in Japan in 2003; Whitmore's Conn; and Kicken Kris.Kris S. (Roberto -- Sharp Queen, by Princequillo) is the sire of 77 stakes winners from 808 foals (through 2003). Some of his sons at stud are Arch, You and I, Kissin Kris, and Evening Kris.A winner in two of three starts last year at 2, Action This Day finished second in his career debut on Sept. 5 going a mile at Del Mar. He broke his maiden in his second start, a 1 1/16-mile race at Santa Anita on Sept. 26. A month later he came from last, 13 lengths off the lead, to win the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) by a convincing 2 1/4 lengths. He was the second of a record four Breeders' Cup winners on the day for trainer Richard Mandella.Action This Day is slated to make his 3-year-old debut on Sunday in the 1 1/8-mileSham Stakes at Santa Anita.Bred in Kentucky by Jaime S. Carrion, trustee, Action This Day was a $150,000 sale purchase out of the 2002 Keeneland July yearling sale.