Yankee Gentleman's dam, Key Phrase (by Flying Paster), won her first five races, including the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I).
Stakes winner Yankee Gentleman, whose 117 Beyer Speed Figure is one of the highest of the year, will enter stud at Mr. and Mrs. Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky., for a fee of $10,000 live foal. A homebred for Martin and Pam Wygod, Yankee Gentleman was retired shortly after his fifth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I)."Marty Wygod and I will own Yankee Gentleman in partnership," Brereton Jones said about the 4-year-old son of Storm Cat. "We both believe strongly in this horse's ability, bloodlines, and outstanding conformation, in fact to the point where we are each going to breed between 15 and 20 quality mares to him this first season. Yankee Gentleman has the raw brilliance that is so important for major sire success."Yankee Gentleman recorded his 117 Beyer in a 1:07.90 score in the six-furlong Pirate's Bounty Handicap at Del Mar in September. His other wins included an 11-length score at Gulfstream Park in his first start and a five-length allowance triumph at Belmont Park. He retired with four wins from 10 starts and earnings of $202,547.