Bodemeister named Eclipse Award Finalist

Bodemeister, WinStar Farm’s newest addition to the stallion roster, was recently announced as a finalist for the 2012 Eclipse Award in the 3-year-old male category. The Eclipse Award winners will be announced Jan. 19 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Bodemeister, co-owned by Zayat Stables and Mike and Tiffany Moreno, was a brilliant winner of the Arkansas Derby (G1), as well as runner-up in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1). He is the only 3-year-old of 2012 to record four triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures. He finished his career with $1,304,800 in earnings, never finishing worse than second in six starts.

In August, Zayat announced that Bodemeister was to be retired from racing and stand stud in 2013 at WinStar Farm, for a fee of $30,000 LFS&N. Bodemeister was a $260,000 purchase during the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale. Consigned by Audley Farm by Brookdale Sales, agent, he was purchased by Zayat and named for Baffert’s son, Bode.

“You must always put the horse first, and it is in Bodemeister’s best interest to retire at this time,” said Ahmed Zayat at the time. “The sportsman in me is very disappointed because the sky was the limit for his racing career. He is the most brilliant horse that I’ve had the privilege of owning and my family and I will miss him thrilling us in the afternoons. But every end is a new beginning, and we’ll now look forward with great anticipation to racing little Bodes in the future.”

With his raw speed, four Beyer Speed Figures over 100, Empire Maker killing it, and his good looks, we think Bodemeister is the best stallion prospect this year. We’re looking ahead to what we believe will be an exciting future at stud for Bodemeister, said Elliott Walden, president and CEO at WinStar.