Line of David sold, retired

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Line of David, the winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in April but 18th in the Kentucky Derby last month, has been bought by B. Wayne Hughes and retired to stud.

Line of David will enter stud at Hughes's Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky in 2011, Hughes said on Sunday. The colt will not race again this year.

Line of David, by Lion Heart, won 3 of 7 starts and $662,000 for owners Ike and Dawn Thrash and trainer John Sadler.

"He's got a couple of minor injuries," Hughes said from his Kentucky farm. "He won't be running any more. He'll be coming here any day now."

Line of David was scheduled to start in Sunday's Grade 3 Will Rogers Stakes at Hollywood Park, but the negotiations to sell the colt took precedence. Line of David was not entered in the Will Rogers.

Hughes said he was attracted to Line of David as a stallion prospect because of his race record, looks and speed. In the Arkansas Derby, Line of David led throughout the 1 1/8 miles, finishing a neck ahead of Super Saver, who won the Kentucky Derby.

"He's a Grade 1 winner, winning the Arkansas Derby and beating the eventual [Kentucky] Derby winner," Hughes said. "He has unbelievable speed. He's an exceptionally good-looking horse.

"He's a real man. I think he'll be a good addition for Spendthrift."

Aside from the Arkansas Derby, Line of David won twice on turf -- a maiden race at Santa Anita in February and an allowance race there in March, his final start before the trip to Arkansas.

Hughes said a fee will be determined at a later date. "We haven't figured out a fee," he said. "He won't be an expensive stallion."