Divisidero Retired to Airdrie Stud

Divisidero , a multiple grade 1-winning son of leading sire Kitten's Joy , has been retired to stand at Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud, the farm announced Oct. 29. His stud fee will be $7,500 with a stands and nurses guarantee.

In his February 2015 debut at Gulfstream Park, Divisidero was near the back early and six wide heading into the stretch before he rallied impressively to win by half a length for owner Gunpowder Farms and trainer Buff Bradley. He quickly gained national attention after taking the American Turf Stakes (G2T) in just his third career start. He earned a 100 Equibase Speed Figure for the effort, which produced a time of :05.79 in the last sixteenth of a mile. In his next start, Divisidero set a track record of 1:48.03 for 1 1/8 miles on Belmont Park's inner turf while besting subsequent turf stars Takeover Target and World Approval in the Pennine Ridge Stakes.

Divisidero's signature victories came in back-to-back editions of the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs. In his first Turf Classic victory in 2016, he again defeated eventual Eclipse turf champion World Approval, as well as 2015 Eclipse champion Big Blue Kitten , and future Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Tourist . Coming back in the 2017 Turf Classic, Divisidero defeated eventual three-time grade 1 winner Beach Patrol and six-time grade 1 winner and Brazilian Horse of the Year Bal a Bali . 

Video: Woodford Reserve Turf Classic S. (G1T)

Transferred to the barn of trainer Kelly Rubley prior to the 2018 season, Divisidero went on to take that year's Arlington Handicap (G3T) and placed in the one-mile Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course before coming up just three-quarters of a length short in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Mile. A winner of Monmouth Park's Red Bank Stakes (G3T) at a mile in his penultimate start of 2019, he was beaten just 1 1/2 lengths in his career finale, the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland.

Divisidero retires sound following a career in which he tallied a 7-6-4 record out of 29 starts, earned 11 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures all in graded stakes, and earned $1,606,762. He won a graded stakes every year in which he ran.

Bred by Hinkle Farms out of the Lemon Drop Kid  mare Madame Du Lac, Divisidero was purchased for $250,000 by Josh Stevens, then of Margaux Farm, on behalf of Gunpowder Farms at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His rich pedigree traces in tail-female line to the foundation mare Almahmoud, whose daughters Natalma and Cosmah are the respective dams of breed-shaping stallions Northern Dancer and Halo. This family also produced top international sire Danehill.

"Divisidero is a multiple grade 1-winning millionaire by one of the best stallions in the world and from one of the most important female families the breed has known," said Airdrie Stud's Bret Jones. "When he was at his best, he beat the top turf horses in America at the grade 1 level and did so with the turn-of-foot of a special horse. He deserves every chance to become an important sire, and we are going to give him that opportunity by supporting him heavily here at Airdrie."