Irish War Cry retired and given stallion position in Maryland

Multiple Graded stakes winner Irish War Cry has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Maryland for the 2019 season. A stud fee will be announced at a later date.

By leading sire Curlin, Irish War Cry won five of his 13 career starts including the Holy Bull Stakes and Wood Memorial Stakes, both Grade 2s, last year to stamp himself a Kentucky Derby contender.

He would go on to finish second in the Belmont Stakes after setting the pace and won the Grade 3 Pimlico Special Stakes this May but had not raced since getting pulled up after struggling with the heat during the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June.

"Irish War Cry is such a gorgeous and talented horse," said his trainer Graham Motion. "I haven't had a horse since Animal Kingdom who has shown the kind of raw ability that he has.

"Unlucky not to win a Grade 1, he came so close in the Belmont Stakes, but did win the Wood Memorial, which previously had been a Grade 1. I look forward to training his offspring."

Owned and bred in New Jersey by Isabelle de Tomaso, Irish War Cry won four of his first five career starts and retires with earnings of $1,257,060.

He is out of the Polish Numbers mare Irish Sovereign and is a half-brother to Graded stakes winner Irish Strait and stakes-placed Irish Politics.

"We couldn't be more thrilled to add Irish War Cry to our stallion roster," said Northview's general manager David Wade.

"This horse will get the attention of breeders not only in Maryland, but throughout the entire region. He has such a presence and is so beautifully balanced that I believe mare owners will line up after they see him. We'll announce a stud fee and syndicate structure shortly."

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