Sky Mesa to stand at Three Chimneys

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., has purchased an interest in Grade 1 winner Sky Mesa and will stand the Pulpit colt when he retires from racing.

The 3-year-old colt is preparing for a return to the races in the July 6 Dwyer Stakes, according to his connections. Sky Mesa, owned by John Oxley and trained by John Ward, has been out of competition since winning the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 5. That victory capped a three-race debut season for the Sky Mesa, who won his first start by nearly eight lengths at Saratoga, then won the Grade 1 Hopeful before winning the Breeders' Futurity.

Sky Mesa had been pointing for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but a wrenched ankle forced his defection just before the race. Sky Mesa's planned return earlier this year hit a roadblock when he suffered a bruised foot.

"We don't plan to retire him until at least the end of this year," Oxley said, adding that "tremendous interest" in the colt had prompted him to make the deal with Three Chimneys.

Three Chimneys did not disclose the amount of its investment in Sky Mesa.

Sky Mesa is a son of Grade 3 winner Caress, a Storm Cat mare who also is the dam of Grade 2-placed Monthir.