Pyro to join Darley stable

ARCADIA, Calif. - Pyro, who is entered in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita, will become the property of Sheikh Mohammed following the race, but no decision has yet been made on whether he will race next year or go to stud, according to Jimmy Bell, the president of Darley USA, which is owned by Sheikh Mohammed.

Pyro, a 3-year-old son of Pulpit, is currently owned by Ron Winchell, who also bred him.

"He will run for his current connections in the Breeders' Cup. The transfer will occur after the race," Bell said. As to whether Pyro will join the stallion ranks at Darley next year, Bell said, "Those decisions will be made by Sheikh Mohammed. It's his call to make."

Darley has been on a shopping spree for stallion prospects the past two years, In 2007, it purchased three of that year's leading 3-year-olds - Any Given Saturday, Hard Spun, and Street Sense, the Kentucky Derby winner - and had them all start their stud careers this year.

Pyro's biggest wins this year came in the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He also was third in the Travers. Last year, at age 2, he finished second in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Champagne Stakes to Eclipse Award winner War Pass.