New additions for Darby Dan, Calumet and Ocala Stud

In the run-up to the Breeders' Cup in just under a week's time, there has been a spate of stallion retirements with Darby Dan, Calumet and Ocala Stud all strengthening their rosters with new additions.

Klimt, a Grade 1-winning son of Quality Road, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duty at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky, where he will be offered to breeders at a fee of $10,000.

"Klimt was an exceptionally fast two-year-old, and he possesses a stallion-producing pedigree and a great physical to match," said Ryan Norton, stallion director at Darby Dan.

"He was one of the fastest two-year-olds at OBS last year and was well sold to Bob Baffert, who obviously has one of the best eyes for a horse in our business. His Del Mar Futurity win was the second fastest in over a dozen years - only American Pharoah ran faster."

Glimmers of gold

A $140,000 yearling, Klimt was offered as a two-year-old at last year's OBS March Sale after breezing a quarter mile in 20.4 seconds. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert purchased the colt for $435,000 on behalf of Kaleem Shah, also the owner of Dortmund, who was recently retired to stud in Maryland.

Klimt captured the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity by more than four lengths in 1:21.80, the second-fastest Del Mar Futurity in over a dozen years, with only American Pharoah running faster. On his final start for Bob Baffert, Klimt finished runner-up in the Frontrunner Stakes at Santa Anita.

Klimt is out of the Dixie Union mare Inventive, and hails from the immediate family of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Concern. Matt Bowling Bloodstock brokered the deal for Klimt to stand at Darby Dan as part of a syndicate.

Darby Dan Farm 2018 covering fees

Bal A Bali to join Keen Ice at Calumet

Top-class turf runner Bal A Bali, a seven-year-old son of Put It Back carrying the BRZ suffix, has been retired from racing ahead of an intended tilt at the Breeders' Cup Mile to stand at Calumet Farm in Kentucky.

Having won Brazil's equivalent of the Triple Crown, Bal A Bali made the long journey north to California and the yard of Richard Mandella, for whom he excelled over eight furlongs, winning this year's Frank E Kilroe Mile and Shoemaker Mile, both at Santa Anita.

"He's had problems ever since he came here and he's dealt with them and had success - success beyond expectations," Mandella told the BloodHorse, referring to the horse's battle with laminitis when he first arrived in the US.

Noble Bird to the Sunshine State

Grade 1 winner Noble Bird has been retired and will take up stud duty at Ocala Stud in Florida. His fee will be announced at a later date.

"Noble Bird is a Grade 1 winner that was fast enough to set a track record at a prestigious track like Keeneland, where he still holds the record for a mile and an eighth on dirt," J Michael O'Farrell of Ocala Stud told the BloodHorse.

"He's another tremendous stallion prospect from the racing programme of owner John Oxley and trainer Mark Casse, and we're excited to have the opportunity to stand him"

Noble Bird scored his biggest career victory in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2015 and he retires with seven wins and lifetime earnings of more than $1.3 million.

A son of Birdstone, Noble Bird is out of the Tiznow mare Anyhow, while his third dam is Graded stakes winner Noble Damsel.

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