Graydar retired to Taylor Made Stallions

Grade 1 winner Graydar has been retired from racing, and will stand the 2014 breeding season at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Ky. for an advertised fee of $15,000.

The 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song had compiled a perfect three-for-three record in 2013, and was headed toward a start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, but a quarter crack pulled him from the race. His final start came in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap on Sept. 28 at Belmont Park, which he won by 1 3/4 lengths.

Taylor Made purchased an interest in Graydar last August, shortly after the death of his sire, who had been a highly successful stallion at the farm over the previous decade.

“Graydar’s quarter crack that forced us to miss the Breeders’ Cup wasn’t healing like we hoped to be able to make the Cigar Mile or any other Grade 1s left on the racing calendar,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s among the most talented horses I’ve had the privilege to train…Knowing this horse and how brilliantly fast and good looking he is, I’m very excited about his future as a stallion.”

Graydar retires with five wins in six career starts for earnings of $841,560. In addition to his Kelso victory, Graydar also won the Grade 1 Donn Handicap and the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap. He was campaigned by Twin Creeks Racing Stable.

Bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish of Lane’s End, Graydar is out of the winning Dehere mare Sweetest Smile, who is the dam of six winners from eight foals to race including Grade 3-placed winners Star of David and Union Course. He is from the family of Grade/Group 1 winners Mujahid and Ron the Greek and Grade 2 winner Musket Man, among others.

“Graydar is the closest thing I’ve seen to Unbridled’s Song, and obviously we’ve had the privilege to be around a lot of good ones through the years,” said Taylor Made President & CEO Duncan Taylor. “His combination of looks, class, and sheer brilliance remind me of his sire, both on and off the racetrack, and he has that special presence about him like Unbridled’s Song had. We’re extremely excited about Graydar and look forward to continuing our great relationship with Steve Davison, Randy Gullatt and the group at Twin Creeks. We’ve always felt that Graydar would be a great heir to carry on his terrific sire line.”