Pyro, winner of the March 8 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), will stand at Sheikh Mohammed's Darley operation in Lexington upon completion of his racing career.
Trained by Steve Asmussen for breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, Pyro has three wins, two seconds, and a third in six starts, with earnings of $1,056,718. According to a press release from Darley America, Pyro will continue to be campaigned in Winchell's colors through this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships.
“His turn of foot in the Risen Star was just so visually impressive," Dan Pride, chief operating officer of Darley America, said in a press release. "Add to that his assertive victory in the Louisiana Derby and we feel extremely excited and privileged to have him coming to Darley. He has all the ingredients to be a superstar on the racetrack and at stud.”
"To have our homebred Pyro retiring to Darley is extremely exciting," owner Ron Winchell said in the release. "Although we're certainly a bit prejudiced about him, I really do think that the success he has shown on the track will follow him to the stallion barn."
A son of Pulpit, Pyro also won the Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) and finished second to champion War Pass in both the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and the Champagne Stakes (gr. I).
Charlie Boden, Darley nominations manager, said the farm was attracted to Pyro because of the strong sire power represented in Pulpit, a son of A.P. Indy and because the colt is from a "very good, precocious female family."
Pyro is out of the Wild Again mare Wild Vision, a full sister to grade II winner Wild Wonder.
Boden said Sheikh Mohammed will make a decision on Pyro's future once the ownership change takes place following the Breeders' Cup.
Pyro working at Fair Grounds prior to the Louisiana Derby (gr. II)
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