Grade 1 winner Noble Bird has been retired from racing and will stand the 2018 breeding season at Ocala Stud in Ocala, Fla. A fee for the 6-year-old Birdstone horse will be announced at a later time. Noble Bird retires with seven wins in 23 starts for earnings of $1,327,945, highlighted by wins in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap, Grade 2 Fayette Stakes, Grade 3 Pimlico Special, and listed Lukas Classic. His Fayette effort set a track record at Keeneland for 1 1/8 miles at 1:47.75. Mark Casse trained Noble Bird for owner John Oxley. “Noble Bird is a Grade 1 winner that was fast enough to run Beyers of 110, 109, and 108 and set a track record at a prestigious racetrack like Keeneland, where he still holds the 1 1/8-mile mark on dirt,” said Ocala Stud’s J. Michael O’Farrell. Bred in Kentucky by Jack Swain, Noble Bird is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Anyhow, whose four winners from five runners also include stakes winner Brother Pat and Grade 3-placed Dido. His extended family includes Grade 3 winner Mythical Gem. Noble Bird will stand as property of Oxley and Ocala Stud. He is now available for inspection. :: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales