Stroll returns after two years in Italy

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Claiborne Farm's homebred stallion Stroll has returned home from Italy for stud duty.

The 9-year-old Pulpit horse arrived at Claiborne early Sunday morning.

The Grade 1 winner had been standing in Italy on a two-year lease deal. The success of his first two crops has prompted Claiborne to bring him home at the conclusion of the agreement with Italy's Azienda Agricola Mediterraneo..

Stroll's first crop includes Canadian champion juvenile filly Van Lear Rose, 2009 Appalachian Stakes winner Afternoon Stroll, and five other stakes performers.

"It's amazing how he's done," said Claiborne stallion marketer Bernie Sams, "especially for the number of mares he's bred. It's remarkable to have a champion out of his first crop and a filly like Afternoon Stroll."

Stroll was bred to 58 mares in 2005, his first season at stud, and to 25 in 2006, according to Jockey Club statistics. Sams said the horse was bred to about 120 mares last year in Italy and 40 to 50 the year before.

Claiborne has not yet set his fee for the 2010 breeding season.

Stroll is out of the Group 3-placed mare Maid for Walking, a British-bred daughter of Prince Sabo. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Patrol.