Red Bullet pensioned at 14

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Red Bullet, winner of the 2000 Preakness Stakes and sire of a Canadian Horse of the Year, Fatal Bullet, has been pensioned at age 14 due to declining fertility, Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs announced Tuesday.

An Unbridled horse, Red Bullet otherwise is “very happy and healthy,” Adena’s general manager, Eric Hamelback, said, and he will continue to live at the farm in Paris, Ky.

“He will be available to all of his fans and continue to enjoy the same treatment as all of our active stallions,” Hamelback said.

A Stronach homebred, Red Bullet won his first three starts at age 3, highlighted by a 2 1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Gotham. He finished second in the Wood Memorial (then a Grade 2) behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus but turned the tables on that rival in the Preakness, winning by nearly four lengths.

Red Bullet raced until age 5, winning Delaware park’s Foggy Road Stakes and placing in the Grade 2 Dwyer, Grade 1 Cigar Mile, and Grade 3 Skip Away. He also ran second in the 2002 Donn, a neck behind Mongoose, but was disqualified to fourth. He retired with 6 wins from 14 starts and lifetime earnings of $1,161,920.

In addition to Fatal Bullet, Red Bullet also has sired such runners as multiple-stakes winners Red Lead, Cool Bullet, and Royal Currier, the last a track record-setter. From 138 starters so far, he has progeny earnings totaling more than $9.1 million.

According to Jockey Club statistics, Red Bullet has had no live foals registered so far this year.