Heritage Hall retired to David Spears Racing in Oklahoma

Grade 2-placed Heritage Hall has been retired from racing and will begin his stallion career at David Spears Racing in Hartshorne, Okla.

The 8-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song will stand the 2015 breeding season for an advertised fee of $1,000. Because of his late start in the breeding shed this year, he will stand free to approved mares for the remainder of the 2014 season.

Bred in Kentucky by Vallecito Farms, Heritage Hall was an $800,000 purchase by owner B. Wayne Hughes at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. He raced for Hughes and trainer Al Stall Jr., then was campaigned by Joe Strazzanti’s Premier Stables Unlimited and trained by Mark Shuman, Chris Englehardt, and Hugh McMahon.

Heritage Hall won seven of 26 career starts for earnings of $180,797. He finished third in the Grade 2 General George Handicap at Laurel Park in 2011.

"I'm not sure I've ever seen a more physically imposing individual in all my years at the racetrack,” Strazzanti said. “At the very least, when you see him in the flesh, it won't be a mystery why a legend like B. Wayne Hughes spent $800,000 on him as a yearling. I like this horse so much, I'm seriously thinking about dipping a toe into the Oklahoma breeding game for the first time."

Heritage Hall is out of the unraced A.P. Indy mare Court Reception, whose six winners from eight foals to race also include Grade 2 winner Ruby’s Reception. He is from the family of Grade 2 winners Handsome Mike and Connie’s Gift, and Grade 3 winner Court Hostess.

"I'd argue that as a son of Unbridled's Song and out of a multiple stakes-producing A.P. Indy mare, Heritage Hall is the best-bred young stallion prospect in Oklahoma today," Spears said. "What's more, he made good on the promise of his pedigree by placing in one of the most prestigious sprint stakes on the East Coast. We're supporting him mares by Indian Charlie, Macho Uno, Diesis, Go for Gin and Runaway Groom - and we're hoping to attract any late-foaling mares or fillies coming right off the track for the remainder of the 2014 season."

The deal to send Heritage Hall to Oklahoma was brokered by bloodstock agent Michael Slezak.