Eskendereya sold to stand in Japan

Grade 1 winner and sire Eskendereya has been purchased by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders’ Association, and will stand in Japan for the 2016 breeding season.

The 8-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway had been a resident of Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Ky., since debuting at stud in 2011, and stood the most recent season for an advertised fee of $17,500.

Stonestreet Stables owned a majority interest in the horse, purchasing its share from Zayat Stables in the midst of the latter’s bankruptcy reorganization. Zayat Stables retained a minority breeding interest after Eskendereya’s retirement.

“Mrs. [Barbara] Banke and Stonestreet have done a tremendous job of supporting Eskendereya from day one, and I don’t believe they ever intended to sell him,” said Ben Taylor, vice president of Taylor Made Stallions.” But the Japanese have always been very interested and came to see him every year. They recently submitted an offer that was accepted by Stonestreet.”

Eskendereya has sired two crops of racing age, with 46 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $2.8 million. His top runners include Grade 1-placed stakes winner Right There, Grade 2-placed stakes winner Isabella Sings, stakes winners Conquest Pacemaker and Sombree, and multiple graded-placed Eskenformoney, who ran in this year’s Kentucky Oaks.

Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Eskendereya won the listed Pilgrim Stakes as a juvenile, then became a leading contender on the 2010 Kentucky Derby trail, with impressive wins in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes. However, he was withdrawn from Derby contention six days prior to the race and retired due to a soft tissue injury in his left front leg.

Eskendereya is out of the winning Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light, whose four winners from six foals to race also includes English Group 1 winner Balmont. He is from the family of Grade 2 winner Blazonry.