Creator, the 3-year-old colt by Tapit who won the 2016 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) and Arkansas Derby (gr. I), has been sold by WinStar Farm and Bobby Flay to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.
The JBBA intends to retire him from racing to stand stud at Shizunai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Japan for 2017.
"The JBBA approached us with a strong desire to stand a top grade I-winning son of Tapit like Creator, and since we already have one on our stallion roster with Constitution , it was ultimately too good of an opportunity to pass up for everyone involved, including the horse," said Elliott Walden, president and chief executive officer at WinStar. "Last year we visited the JBBA, and I was impressed with their facilities and overall program. They've done such a great job with American horses like Empire Maker and Forty Niner, and we hope Creator can have a similar impact for Japan and its breeders."
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Creator retires with a 3-4-1 record from 12 starts and earned more than $1.6 million on the racetrack.
"I'm very proud of Creator," Asmussen said. "His win in the Belmont Stakes really topped off a magical year for me and my family. I am appreciative of the opportunity to have trained a horse like him that proved he's good enough to win a classic."
A $440,000 yearling purchase by WinStar, Creator was bred by Mt. Brilliant Broodmares and is out of the three-time Peruvian champion racemare Morena.