Dirt Mile winner Battle Of Midway retires to WinStar Farm

Battle Of Midway, winner of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar last Friday, has been retired from racing to take up stud duty at WinStar Farm, where he will be offered to breeders at a fee of $20,000.

"We are extremely proud of Battle Of Midway and his tremendous performance in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, passing such a fast horse as Sharp Azteca and doing so in such a fast time," said Elliott Walden, WinStar president and chief executive.

"It was an incredible race that affirmed the ability we always knew he had. Battle Of Midway came out of the race in great shape, and it was a very bittersweet decision to make with our partners Don Alberto to retire this horse to stud.

"Ultimately, we both partnered on him in the first place because we thought he could be the last great son of Smart Strike to carry on that line at stud, so we are sticking to that plan.

"WinStar and Don Alberto are very committed to supporting Battle Of Midway with world-class mares, because we both believe he possesses the pedigree, looks, conformation, and elite miler speed to become a very important sire."

Last Strike

Don Alberto Stable's Carlos Heller added: "Battle Of Midway improved all year winning one of the most exciting Breeders' Cup races. We have assembled a very nice broodmare band and will support Battle Of Midway with quality mares to give him the best chance of becoming the next great son of Smart Strike."

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Battle Of Midway earned a career-best Racing Post Rating of 122 for his Dirt Mile performance.

Earlier this year, Battle Of Midway broke his maiden on debut over 6f at Santa Anita. After finishing third in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes on his second start, Battle Of Midway stretched out to capture a valuable allowance race at Santa Anita before his runner-up effort in the Santa Anita Derby, in which he set a fast pace but was run down by Gormley by half a length.

That performance earned Battle Of Midway a start in the Kentucky Derby, where he again battled on the early pace before finishing third in the Classic. He went on to capture the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita by four and a quarter lengths in June, and the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar by six and a quarter lengths in August.

Battle Of Midway retires having earned almost $1.25 million in prize-money for owners WinStar Farm and Don Alberto Stable.

Bred in Kentucky by Thor-Bred Stables, Battle Of Midway is out of juvenile Grade 1 winner Rigoletta.

A $410,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select yearling, Battle Of Midway was originally purchased by Tom McGreevy for Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farm, from which WinStar and Don Alberto privately acquired the colt in April.

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