Vinery cuts Prospect Bay loose

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky stallion Prospect Bay will either leave the state or be sold at auction before the 2002 breeding season, according to John Stuart, a member of the syndicate that owns Prospect Bay.

Prospect Bay, a 9-year-old Crafty Prospector horse, stood the 2001 season at Dr. Tom Simon's Vinery for a $5,000 fee. But in a meeting with shareholders last week, Vinery resigned as syndicate manager, making the horse available to other farms.

"Vinery has focused on trying to stand fewer stallions that stand for more money," Stuart said, "The Prospect Bay syndicate convinced them to keep this horse for the 2001 season because we saw some good things coming, and we turned down some out-of-state offers for him then. But Vinery doesn't want to stand him this season."

Stuart said the syndicate has entered Prospect Bay in Fasig-Tipton's November sale. But parties in Virginia and New Jersey also have expressed an interest in standing the horse.

Prospect Bay, whose first foals are 3-year-olds this year, has sired stakes winner Trion Georgia, six-figure earner On the Game, and 14 other winners. He has progeny earnings of $782,313.