Saarland sale imminent

A deal to sell Saarland, the 2001 Remsen winner, to stand stud at Hill 'n' Dale in Kentucky for the 2005 breeding season is near completion, according to his trainer, Shug McGaughey.

McGaughey said Wednesday at his Saratoga barn that "basically everything is done" to complete the sale between Saarland's owner and breeder, Cynthia Phipps, and John Sikura, the owner of Hill 'n' Dale in Lexington, Ky. McGaughey said Narvick International is acting as agent on the sale and that Phipps will retain an interest in Saarland.

Saarland, who is stabled at McGaughey's barn at Belmont Park, will be retired immediately once the sale is completed.

A 5-year-old son of Unbridled, Saarland's one stakes victory came in the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old. He placed in several other graded stakes, including runner-up finishes in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 3 Gotham, and was third in last year's Grade 2 Brooklyn.

In his last start, Saarland finished second in an optional claimer at Belmont in his turf debut on June 27. He enters stud with a record of 5-5-1 in 21 starts and earnings of $595,250.