Rule, a multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire, has been retired from racing and will stand stud at Vinery New York for 2013. The WinStar homebred joins leading sire Bluegrass Cat as a Vinery/WinStar Venture standing in the Empire State. Rule’s introductory fee will be $6,500 stands and nurses, and he’ll participate in the “Dream Big” breeders’ program.
“Rule is a natural for New York, and his pedigree should be a very familiar one to local breeders. Obviously, his dam is the sister of perhaps New York’s best racehorse ever in Funny Cide, who was the first Kentucky Derby winner we bred, and the horse that really put WinStar on the map,” said Elliott Walden, President & CEO of WinStar. “Rule is an awesome-looking individual and a precocious, high-quality racehorse in his own right, winning a Grade 2 this year over Flat Out and placing in three of North America’s most coveted Grade 1 races during his career.”
Rule was a leading 2-year-old who captured three straight wins to close out his juvenile campaign, culminating with a win in the Delta Jackpot S. (G3). He ran his win streak to four with a decisive victory in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa on the Derby Trail as a 3-year-old, before placing in the Florida Derby (G1).
As a 4-year-old, Rule was a Saratoga stakes winner and placed in a pair of prestigious Grade 1 races: the Donn H. (G1) and Woodward S. (G1). In the latter, Rule earned a 106 Beyer in the 1 1/8-mile event at Saratoga. This year, Rule impressed in his seasonal debut while scoring a clear win over multiple Grade 1 winner Flat Out in the Monmouth Cup (G2), earning another triple-digit Beyer.
Rule retires sound with 14 in-the-money performances from 20 starts, including five total stakes wins from ages 2-5, and career earnings of $1,162,350. By Roman Ruler, Rule hails from the mare Rockcide, a half-sister to New York-bred Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner Funny Cide.
The “Dream Big” program for breeders consists of breeding a mare to Rule on a regular stands and nurses basis the first two years, then breeding in years three and four at no charge. After breeding the fourth year and paying two stands and nurses contracts, the breeder will receive a lifetime breeding right to Rule in exchange for the early support. No more than two stands and nurses fees of $13,000 combined will be owed by the breeder.
“We are thrilled to offer our Dream Big program to New York breeders,” said Gerry Duffy, Stallion Seasons Director at WinStar Farm. “We offered this program with Hold Me Back in Kentucky and have seen tremendous results with over 100 mares bred in each of his first two years at stud, and we anticipate similar success with the program in New York.”
Rule will be available for inspection starting next week. For more information on the “Dream Big” program or Rule, please contact Erin Robinson at Vinery New York at 845-724-3500, or Gerry Duffy at WinStar at 859-873-1717.
