NEWS
Friendly Island to stand in New York
Posted: Thursday, June 21, 2007 5:43 PM
FRIENDLY ISLAND
Benoit & Associates photo
by Jeff Lowe
Friendly Island, a Grade 2 winner who finished second in the world’s two richest dirt sprints, will begin his stallion career in 2008 at Sugar Maple Farm in Poughquag, New York.
No stud fee has been announced for the six-year-old Crafty Friend horse out of Island Queen, by Ogygian.
Owner Stuart Subotnick is in the process of syndicating Friendly Island, said Sugar Maple manager Dan Hayden.
Friendly Island won the Palos Verdes Handicap (G2) on January 20 at Santa Anita Park in between second-place finishes in the $2-million TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs and $2-million Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba.
“He’s a horse with a huge heart, and he’s an outstanding looker,” Hayden said. “He’s a super individual.”
“He didn’t break well and came from behind and finished third,” Subotnick said. “At that point Todd and I talked to each other and said, ‘Maybe we should hold him back a little and let him come with one run.’ From that point on, he was like a different horse. We’re looking forward to having some fun with him. I’m going to keep a significant interest, probably about 50%, and try to put some nice mares to him.”
He won eight of 19 career starts and earned $1,369,714.
Bloodstock agent Joseph Brocklebank bought Friendly Island for $85,000 in the 2003 Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co.’s March two-year-olds in training sale. He won his first career start by 17 1/4 lengths for trainer Todd Pletcher in June 2004 at Belmont Park.
Kildare Stud and Adrian Regan bred Friendly Island in New York.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
