Protonico relocating to Darby Dan Farm for 2018

Grade 2 winner Protonico will relocate to Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky. for the 2018 breeding season, where he will stand for an advertised fee of $6,500.

The 6-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway stood his debut season this year at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, Ky., for the same price.

Protonico won 7 of 16 starts during his on-track career for earnings of $997,587, highlighted by scores in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes, and the Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes, Discovery Handicap, and Ben Ali Stakes. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap and third in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Todd Pletcher trained the horse, who ran as a homebred for Oussama Aboughazale’s Sumaya U.S. Stable.

Protonico is the first foal out of the unplaced A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit, whose two winners from four runners also includes stakes-placed African Fighter. His second dam is Chilean Horse of the Year Wild Spirit, with an extended family that also includes Chilean Group 2 winner Silver Look and Group 3 winner Fonda Alegre.

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