Tourist , who won this year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) in stakes-record time, has been retired from racing and will stand stud at WinStar Farm, where he was born.
Owners WinStar, Gary Barber, and Adam Wacthel have partnered with Don Alberto Corp. on the stallion career of the son of Tiznow who will stand for a fee of $12,500 stands and nurses.
"It's a special feeling to bring Tourist home to stud after winning the fastest Breeders' Cup Mile in its 33-year history," said WinStar president Elliott Walden. "When you think about all the great milers—from fillies like Miesque, Goldikova, and Tepin, to horses like Lure, Royal Academy, Cozzene, and Wise Dan—that have participated in the Mile, it makes us extremely excited to launch the next chapter of Tourist's career."
Tourist defeated a field of 14 in the Mile, outkicking champion Tepin to the wire to win by a half-length and stopping the clock in 1:31.71—just two one-hundredths off the Santa Anita Park course record.
With $2,170,340 in career earnings, Tourist represents Tiznow's highest earner ever to retire to stud. The WinStar homebred is out of the multiple stakes-producing Unbridled's Song mare Unbridled Melody, dam of four stakes winners from five starters to date.
"He has always possessed all the best attributes of Tiznow, who we're convinced he is going to be an important sire of sires," Walden added. "We have long believed Tourist and Gemologist had what it took to carry on the sire line, and we're seeing that now with Gemologist and his first 2-year-olds. When breeders see Tourist for the first time on the end of a shank, they'll see what I'm talking about. Physically, he's a terrific blend of Tiznow's size and strength, with Unbridled's Song's quality and balance. WinStar will heavily support Tourist with our broodmare band."
Trained by Bill Mott, Tourist captured two of his six grade I starts in 2016. He was a fast-closing runner-up to Midnight Storm in the Shoemaker Mile (gr. IT) at Santa Anita, in which he earned a 109 Beyer Speed figure, the second highest recorded at a mile on turf in 2016. Tourist followed up with a victory in the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course, defeating a trio of grade I winners in 1:34.29 and earning a 107 Beyer.
"Tourist beat nine grade I winners from all around the world in the fastest Breeders' Cup Mile ever run, so we see him as a horse that will have tremendous international appeal," said Fernando Diaz-Valdez, adviser to Don Alberto. "We are extremely excited about the opportunity to participate in Tourist and with WinStar, and we already have several broodmares lined up to go to him."
In the Mile, Tourist earned a 108 Beyer in his encore performance, defeating nine grade/group I winners. He earned five 100+ Beyers in 2016 and matched Flintshire and Tepin as the only horses to record three Beyers of 107 or higher.
"This is one of the best horses I have ever owned," said Gary Barber, who privately acquired an interest in Tourist in 2014.
