Graded Winner International Star to Stud in Chile

Ken and Sarah Ramsey's four-time graded stakes winner International Star has been sold to Haras Porta Pia Stud Farm near Santiago, Chile, where he'll enter stud later this year. The deal was brokered by Sullivan Bloodstock in Chile and Perry Bloodstock of Lexington, who said the terms of the deal are confidential.

"The Ramseys have had success working with Sullivan Bloodstock and know the horse will be well cared for and have a good home," said Jim Perry.

The 8-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus out of the French Deputy winner Parlez was bred in New York by Katharine Voss and Robert Manfuso, who sold International Star as a yearling to the Ramseys for $85,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale. International Star broke his maiden at first asking and by his fourth start became a graded stakes winner in the Grey Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

At 3, International Star blossomed. He strung together consecutive wins in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), Risen Star Stakes Stakes (G2), and Louisiana Derby (G2) and gave the Ramseys a live contender in the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). The morning of the Derby, however, a chip was discovered in his left front ankle that would require surgery and the horse was scratched.

"Normally, Mr. Ramsey is more optimistic than anyone, but that morning—you have no idea. I've never seen him so gut-punched as he was that morning," recalled Mark Partridge, manager of Ramsey Farm.

International Star returned to racing, adding the Louisiana Stakes and runner-up efforts in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) and Mineshaft Handicap (G3) to his résumé. He retired with a 6-4-1 record out of 19 starts and earned $1,247,529.

The stallion's pedigree is peppered with successful sires. His second dam, stakes-placed Speak Halory, is a half sister to group 1-placed/group 2 winner and sire Van Nistelrooy and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) winner and sire Halory Hunter. International Star is a half brother to stakes winners D C Dancer and Fools in Love, who is the dam of group 2 winner Seahenge and grade 3 winner Max Player.

Perry said Sullivan Bloodstock was particularly interested in International Star because he is a son of Fusaichi Pegasus, who has sired 31 black-type winners in the Southern Hemisphere, which include 12 group winners and two champions. Fusaichi Pegasus's son Bronzo was named champion older horse in Chile for 2014.