NEWS
Drilling for Oil to begin stud career in Peru
Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2009 4:02 PM
DRILLING FOR OIL
Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography
by Michael Burns
Grade 3 winner Drilling for Oil, a six-year-old by Giant’s Causeway out of a half sister to 1978 Triple Crown victor Affirmed, will begin his stallion career during the Southern Hemisphere season at a Peruvian farm owned by Hiad Hamide.
Hamide privately purchased Drilling for Oil, who is out of stakes winner Won’t She Tell, by Banner Sport, from Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III.
A career earner of $266,756, Drilling for Oil won or placed in nine of 17 starts, capturing three races, including the 2007 Louisville Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs. Trained by Ken McPeek, he also placed in four other stakes, including a second in the 2008 Pan American Handicap (G3) at Gulfstream Park before concluding his three-year career with a second in the Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Race Course the same season.
Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Drilling for Oil was a $270,000 purchase by Robbins at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale.
"We are very happy to see Drilling for Oil go to a farm that truly appreciates all of his accomplishments," Robbins said. “We have retained the Northern Hemisphere breeding rights to the horse, and we wish them the best of luck.”
Drilling for Oil is half brother to Grade 1-placed stakes winner and sire Dr. Caton, Grade 3 winner White Crown, and to stakes-placed winner Confidante, dam of 2006 Prix de Diane Hermes (Fr-G1) (French Oaks) winner Confidential Lady.
Michael Burns is a South American-based THOROUGHBRED TIMES correspondent
