Harness: Dancin Yankee retired, joins stallion ranks at Cool Winds Farm

World champion and three-time Ohio Older Pacer of the Year Dancin Yankee p,1:47 2/5f ($2,003,907) has been retired from racing and will stand for stallion service at Cool Winds Farm in Lima, Ohio, for the 2020 breeding season.

A perennial iron-horse with 80 lifetime wins, as well as a fan favorite, the 11-year-old son of Yankee Cruiser earned over $115,000 in each of the last nine of his ten racing seasons. Perhaps the best Ohio-sired horse of all time, Dancin Yankee recently eclipsed $2 million in lifetime earnings while copping his 11th victory of 2019.

"He's the best blue collar horse I've ever driven," exclaimed driver Chris Page. "He shows up every single week and gives you everything he's got every time out."

Still the fastest older pacing stallion on a half-mile track, Dancin Yankee defeated both Foiled Again and Heston Blue Chip in a world record 1:48 4/5h, winning the Joe Gerrity Memorial at Saratoga in 2014 at age six. He banked $509,140 that season, also setting a world record of 1:47 2/5f at Pocono in May with Tyler Buter driving. He returned six weeks later to win the $100,000 Sun Stakes Invitational in 1:47 3/5f.

As of late, Dancin Yankee has been owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Melissa Patterson, and Larry Karr.

"Dancin Yankee has been the perfect horse on the racetrack, and he checks all the boxes as a stallion. Correct, versatile, handles any sized track and can race any way you want. He is from an outstanding family, is a double millionaire, and is tough, durable and classy.” noted prominent owner Mark Weaver. “We expect him to pass on all of those traits to his offspring and feel that Ohio is the perfect place for him as it's quickly becoming the most lucrative sire stakes program in the country. We look forward to fully supporting him in the breeding shed and at the yearling sales."

He is the first foal from the 100 percent-producing Cambest mare Dancewiththebest p,4,1:54 4/5f, she a half-sister to seven sub-1:54 multiple-stakes winners, including Marty Party p,2,1:51 2/5f ($684,603) and The Lunch Pail p,3,1:51 3/5 ($503,629).

Dancin Yankee is also a three-quarter brother in blood to recent Breeders Crown champion Dancin Lou p,3,1:48 3/5 ($578,359) and four other sub-1:54 stakes winning performers.

In fact, not only is his sire Yankee Cruiser p,3,1:49 3/5 ($1,150,123) the sire of the fastest 2-year-old pacer of all time, Elver Hanover p,2,1:48 3/5-‘19 ($363,450), but he is also the sire of prominent Pennsylvania stallion Sweet Lou.

The connections of Dancin Yankee have decided to send the horse to Kim and Randy Haines of Cool Winds Farm to manage his stud career.

“He is an outstanding individual,” Randy said. “Big, strong and was a very fast and gritty racehorse. Dancin Yankee is also incredibly fertile. We look forward to offering him to breeders in the Buckeye State.”

Dancin Yankee will stand for an introductory stud fee of $2,500, with a limited number of lifetime breedings available for $6,000 (or $3,500 in 2020 and $3,000 payable in 2021). For more information contact Cool Winds Farm at 419-227-2665 or 419-234-6772.

--press release (Cool Winds Farm)--