Preservationist retired to Airdrie Stud

Preservationist, who rewarded his owner’s patience by winning the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes as a 6-year-old, has been retired from racing. He will stand stud next year for $10,000 at Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., it was announced Tuesday.

Preservationist, campaigned by Centennial Farms and trained by Jimmy Jerkens, had myriad stops and starts throughout his career, limiting him to 11 lifetime starts. But he had a relatively smooth 6-year-old season, racing seven times, winning four races. In addition to the Woodward, he captured the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park in July.

“Preservationist was one of the most gifted and generous horses I’ve ever trained,” Jerkens said in press release. “I’ve said multiple times that the two best horses I’ve ever trained were Preservationist and Quality Road. I’m convinced he would have stamped himself as a top miler had he not excelled at the longer distances.”

Preservationist is a son of Arch out of the Dixieland Band mare Flying Music. He won 6 of 11 starts and earned $1,084,550.

“Preservationist was bred top and bottom to be a special horse and that is exactly what he was,” said Bret Jones, part of Aidrie’s bloodstock services team. “While it’s well documented that his greatest achievements came as an older horse, everyone we have spoken to about this horse has told us that he was revered as a special talent from his absolute earliest days as a 2-year-old.”

Jones noted that while Preservationist’s two signature wins came going long, he was still talented enough to win his maiden going six furlongs in 1:09.35 as a 5-year-old.

“He had exceptional ability, and when combined with his blue-blooded pedigree and over-the-top good looks that made him Arch’s most expensive yearling of his sale year, we really believe we have an exceptional stallion prospect,” Jones said.

Don Little Jr. president of Centennial, said that it was a “privilege and an honor” to be around Preservationist. “And he’s a perfect example of how patience can pay off,” Little added.

Following his victory in the Woodward, Preservationist made his final career start in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he finished fourth behind Code of Honor.

At Airdrie, Preservationist joins a stallion roster that includes Cairo Prince, Creative Cause, Collected, Upstart, and Summer Front.