Bodemeister to stand at WinStar

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister will stand at WinStar Farm in Lexington when his racing days are over, the farm and the colt’s owners announced Thursday.

WinStar and the 3-year-old Empire Maker colt’s owners, Ahmed Zayat and Michel and Tiffany Moreno, have put together a partnership to stand the colt. Zayat and the Morenos will continue to race the 3-year-old Empire Maker son. Bodemeister is pointing for the July 29 Haskell at Monmouth.

The Morenos, who own Southern Equine Stables, bought a minority stake in Bodemeister in late April before Bodemeister headed into the Derby as one of the race’s leading contenders. He finished second to I’ll Have Another in both the Derby and the Preakness.

Bodemeister came into the Triple Crown off a 9 1/2-length victory in the Arkansas Derby, earning a 108 Beyer. Unraced at 2, he broke his maiden by nearly the same margin when he took a Santa Anita maiden special weight by 9 1/4 lengths. Bodemeister has won half his six races and has never been worse than second.

Zayat paid $260,000 for Bodemeister at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2010. The colt is out of Untouched Talent, a graded winner by Storm Cat. Audley Farm bred Bodemeister.

“Bodemeister will be in an advantageous situation when he retires to stud,” said WinStar president Elliott Walden. “Mr. Zayat and Mr. Moreno have built quality broodmare bands and are very active in the marketplace. I think breeders will love the fact they start off with three potential bidders on his babies.”