Catienus stud fee rises to $15K

Catienus, who recently moved from Highcliff Farm in New York to owner Ken Ramsey's Ramsey Farm in Kentucky, will stand for a higher stud fee of $15,000 in 2008. Catienus stood for $7,500 in 2007.

The 13-year-old Storm Cat horse is the sire of Grade 1 winner and record-setting runner Precious Kitten, recent winner of the Matriarch Stakes as well as the John C. Mabee Handicap this summer. His other stakes winners this year include Grade 1-placed Talent Search and Cannonball, third in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Catienus, a son of the Mr. Prospector mare Diamond City, has progeny earnings of more than $5.4 million so far this year.

"The demand by Kentucky breeders has convinced us that it is time to increase Catienus's stud fee," Ramsey said. "It's a nice problem to have."

* In other Kentucky stallion news, Grade 2 winner Will He Shine has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2008 at Millennium Farms in Lexington. The 5-year-old Silver Deputy horse won the True North Handicap and placed in three other stakes. Will He Shine, a son of the Star de Naskra mare Christmas Star, is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Cuvee. He will stand for $6,500.