Halory Hunter Arrives at McMahon of Saratoga

Grade II winner Halory Hunter (Jade Hunter -- Halory, by Halo) arrived at Joe and Anne McMahon's McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds on Feb. 12 to stand the 2003 breeding season. Rick Pitino, basketball coach for the University of Louisville whose Celtic Pride Stable campaigned the son of Jade Hunter, is the majority owner in the 8-year-old stallion. Halory Hunter's 2003 stud fee is $2,500, live foal.

A $135,000 Keeneland 2-year-old sale purchase by trainer Nick Zito and partner Shelby Spano, Halory Hunter compiled a record of three wins, two seconds, and three thirds from 10 starts at two and three. He earned $713,120. At two he ran second in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) and third in the Champagne (gr. I). At three, he won the nine-furlong Blue Grass Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland and ran was third in both the Florida Derby (gr. I) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II). He finished fourth in that year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) behind Real Quiet. A fractured foreleg during a workout for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) ended his racing career.

He began his stud duties at William Farish's Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky. Halory Hunter stood the 2002 season in Iowa.