Divine Park retired to stud

Divine Park, a Grade 1 winner, has retired from racing and will stand in 2009 at Airdrie Stud.

A 4-year-old Chester House colt, Divine Park will stand his initial season for a $17,500 fee.

Divine Park won 6 of his 9 starts, including the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 3 Westchester Handicap in 2008 and the Grade 3 Withers Stakes last year. He has earned $612,935. Divine Park last raced in August, when he finished sixth behind Curlin in the Woodward.

Kiaran McLaughlin trained Divine Park for owner James Barry.

A bay colt bred by Catesby Clay and Runnymede Farm, Divine Park is out of the Ascot Knight winner High in the Park. His family also produced Grade 1 winners Sardula and Imperial Gesture.

In other stallion news, Grade 3-placed Cougar Cat - a son of Storm Cat and General Meeting's multiple Grade 1 winner Excellent Meeting - will enter stud in 2009 at Richland Hills in Midway, Ky. The 5-year-old will stand for a $5,000 fee. Bred by Brushwood Stable, Cougar Cat retires with 4 wins, 5 seconds, and 3 thirds from 27 starts. He earned $256,405.

Cougar Cat's five stakes-placings include second-place finishes in the Grade 3 Aristides Stakes at Churchill in 2007 and the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in Ireland in 2004.