No decision has been reached regarding Mr. Mellon's stallion career.
Mr. Mellon, who won the Arlington Classic Stakes (gr. IIT) in June, has been retired after suffering a career-ending injury in the Sept. 7 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT). The 3-year-old Red Ransom colt, owned by Dr. Tom VanMeter, Kenny Troutt, and WinStar Farm, won three of nine races and earned $278,580 in his career. Troutt owns WinStar with Bill Casner.Bred by VanMeter and Vinery, Mr. Mellon also won this year's Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park and ran second in the Jefferson Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs. A half-brother, by Seeking the Gold, sold for $1 million at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Mr. Mellon's dam, Mackie (by Summer Squall), sold for $5 million at the 2000 Keeneland January sale of horses of racing age in foal to Mr. Prospector. Mackie is a half-sister to six stakes winners, including Sea Hero, who won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) for the late Paul Mellon.
