Perfect Soul returning to Darby Dan in 2013

Perfect Soul, currently ranked sixth on Canada's general sire list, will stand at Darby Darn Farm in Lexington, Ky., next year for a fee of $7,500. He had stood at Darby Dan from his initial season at stud, 2005, through 2011.

A 14-year-old by Sadler's Wells, Perfect Soul stood this year at Norse Ridge Farms in Ontario for $7,500 Canadian. Among his most accomplished offspring are 2011 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl, 2009 Breeders' Stakes winner Perfect Shower, and 2011 Plate Trial Stakes winner Check Your Soul. He was the leading general sire in Canada in 2011.

A Charles Fipke homebred, Perfect Soul won 7 of 21 starts, earning more than $1.5 million, and was voted Canada's champion grass horse in 2003. He won the 2003 Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes, and set a course record of 1:33.54 for a mile in the 2004 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes at Keeneland.

"Charles Fipke has done a tremendous job breeding and racing such top Grade 1-winning colts as Tale of Ekati and Jersey Town, but Perfect Soul was his first masterpiece," Darby Dan owner John Phillips said.

"Perfect Soul has proven to be a Grade 1 winner and Grade 1 sire, including siring a Breeders' Cup winner a year ago, and he's the last son of the breed-shaping sire Sadler's Wells standing in America. We're grateful to Mr. Fipke to have Perfect Soul join our expanding roster for 2013."