Benny the Bull to stand at Vinery for $4K

Benny the Bull, the 6-year-old champion sprinter of 2008, will stand at Vinery in Summerfield, Fla., in 2010 for a fee of $4,000, the owners of the farm announced on Wednesday.

By Lucky Lionel out of the Birdonthewire dam Comet Cat, Benny the Bull was voted champion sprinter of 2008 after winning all four of his starts that year, including the Group 1 Golden Shaheen in Dubai. Briefly retired after the championship campaign because of an ankle injury, Benny the Bull returned to racing this year and finished second in two Grade 2 stakes, the True North and Smile Sprint handicaps.

Benny the Bull will stand as the property of Greg James, who purchased the horse as a yearling out of the 2004 Keeneland September sale for $38,000. In 2007, James sold a majority interest in the horse to IEAH Stables and Andrew Cohen, but after the horse's retirement earlier this year, James bought out the other partners to take sole ownership again.

Benny the Bull retired with a record of 9 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds from 20 starts, for career earnings of $2,353,430.