Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Heatseeker (Ire) will stand at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington beginning in 2009.

Hill ‘n’ Dale has purchased a significant interest in the five-year-old Giant’s Causeway horse out of Rusty Back, by Defensive Play. He will stand for $20,000.

Owner Will Deburgh retired Heatseeker on June 30 after a soft tissue injury was detected in the medial branch of the suspensory ligament in his left front leg.

Heatseeker scored by three-quarters of a length in the Big Cap for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He also won the Californian Stakes (G2) by 5 1/4 lengths on May 31 at Hollywood Park in what ended up being his final race.

“Heatseeker was a racehorse of great versatility and always ran in elite company,” said John G. Sikura, president of Hill 'n' Dale. “He had a ton of speed and could carry this speed over any distance of ground. He is a robust, clean-legged horse with great power and balance from a pedigree that boasts 35 stakes horses and quite a few champions in the first three dams. We think he is a tremendous stallion prospect who should have enormous international appeal.”

A Group 1-placed winner as a two-year-old in Ireland for owner-breeder Richard Barnes, Heatseeker won seven of 17 career starts and earned $1,177,776. He set four track records over synthetic surfaces in Southern California, completing seven furlongs in 1:20.90 and 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.06 at Hollywood and 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.23 and 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.42 at Santa Anita.

Heatseeker will be available for inspection at Hill ‘n’ Dale during the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale.