Vinery’s New York farm getting Bluegrass Cat

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Vinery, which has expanded its operation into New York, now will add Bluegrass Cat to its roster at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag.

Vinery will stand Bluegrass Cat, an 8-year-old Storm Cat horse, in a joint venture with WinStar Farm, which has stood the horse since he entered stud in 2007. The Vinery/WinStar venture hasn’t issued a stud fee yet for the stallion, who commanded a $25,000 fee this year.

“We identified Bluegrass Cat as a top stallion and approached WinStar with the idea of partnering,” said Vinery’s president, Tom Ludt. “We wanted to give New York breeders another reason to stay home and have the type of stallion that Kentucky breeders will follow.”

“We’re ready to make a big splash in New York,” said WinStar’s CEO, Elliott Walden. “It’s a market we’ve looked at with great interest for some time now because of unlimited potential.”

Walden added that WinStar planned to maintain its support for Bluegrass Cat in New York by breeding as many mares to him in the Empire State as they did when he was in the Bluegrass.
Bluegrass Cat’s runners include graded winners Kathmanblu and Blue Laser, Grade 1-placed Big Blue Nation, and 2011 stakes-winners as Zayda and Zow, among others.

Bluegrass Cat is out of the A. P. Indy mare She’s A Winner, a full sister to the dam of Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. His family includes such sires as Private Account, Mutakddim, and Not For Love.