Aldebaran, who has won or placed in all 15 starts and is being pointed for the Oct. 26 NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), will stand at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington upon his retirement from racing. Darby Dan, in partnership, bought the breeding rights in Aldebaran from the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings. A 4-year-old son of Mr. Prospector out of group I winner Chimes of Freedom (by Private Account), Aldebaran will continue to race for Flaxman. No timetable has been set as to his retirement.
"He has as good a pedigree as any horse who has ever been retired to stud, and could be the last significant son of Mr. Prospector to enter stud," said Darby Dan managing partner John Phillips. "He has all the qualities you look for in a successful stallion: pedigree, speed, performance, and conformation."
Aldebaran was bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings and initially raced in England, where he placed in three stakes. He was returned to the U.S. last fall and won the mile Nassau Handicap on grass in October at Belmont Park in 1:33.62 in his first race back. A month later, he ran third in the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT).
Aldebaran raced exclusively on dirt this year. He won at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:21.77 and ran second in the following stakes: Metropolitan (gr. I) and Forego (gr. I) Handicaps, and the Vosburgh (gr. I) and Commonwealth Breeders' Cup (gr. II) Stakes.
Aldebaran, who is trained in the U.S. by Bobby Frankel, has won three races and earned $558,580.