Willcox Inn retired, to stand in New York

Grade 2 winner Willcox Inn has been retired from racing and will make his stallion debut in 2015 at Saratoga Stud in Stillwater, N.Y.

The 6-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday will stand for an advertised fee of $7,500.

Bred in Kentucky by Dr. John A. Chandler, Willcox Inn was campaigned for the bulk of his career by Lael Stable and All In Stable, the latter of which owned the horse since his first start. He was trained by Michael Stidham for his entire on-track career.

“We have had many exciting moments in racing, and a lot of them were with Willcox Inn,” said Gretchen Jackson of Lael Stable. “We want to give him the best chance to succeed at stud and feel New York is the right place to be.”

Willcox Inn retires with 6 wins in 22 starts for earnings of $1,015,543, highlighted by victories in the Grade 2 American Derby, the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby, and the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap. He was unraced since the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes at Keeneland last October.

Willcox Inn is out of the Grade 3-placed winning Gone West mare De Aar, who is the dam of multiple stakes-placed Francisca. De Aar is a half-sister to Grade 1 winners Cetewayo and Dynaforce and Grade 2 winner Bowman Mill.

“We are thrilled that the New York breeders will get a chance to send their best mares to this talented son of the late Harlan’s Holiday,” said Suzie O’Cain of Saratoga Stud. “Willcox Inn was a quality, consistent graded stakes winner, winning graded stakes on two surfaces, while starting at 10 different tracks nationwide, competing against the very best.”

The new stallion is expected to arrive at Saratoga Stud in mid-August, and will be available for inspection during the live meet at Saratoga Race Course.