Country House to Stand at Darby Dan Farm

Country House, the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and an earner of $2,120,175, will take up stud duty at John Phillips' Darby Dan Farm in Lexington to stand the 2021 breeding season.

He will be participating in Darby Dan's "Share the Upside" program, and his fee has been set at $7,500, stands and nurses.

Bred in Kentucky by the late Joseph V. Shields, who died shortly after Country House's debut in 2018, the chestnut colt was campaigned by Shields' widow, Maury, his nephew Guinness McFadden of Blackwood Stables, and LNJ Foxwoods. He was trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

"Country House is an absolutely gorgeous horse that was just coming into his own when he ran in the Kentucky Derby," Mott said. "We always felt the best was yet to come."

Country House opened his 3-year-old season by breaking his maiden with an eye-catching 3 1/2-length score over 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. He then finished a fast-closing second to eventual classic winner War of Will in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots before finishing fourth in the TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). In his final prep before the 145th Kentucky Derby, Country House finished a determined third behind Omaha Beach  and Improbable in the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

Country House finished second in the Run for the Roses behind Maximum Security but was elevated to first via disqualification.

HAMMONDS: Country House Awarded Kentucky Derby Via DQ

"We are excited to stand Country House and to provide breeders the opportunity to breed to a Kentucky Derby winner through our 'Share the Upside' program," Darby Dan stallion director Ryan Norton said. "There is a lot to like about Country House, hailing from the influential Smart Strike sire line, and we encourage breeders to come out to the farm and see him."

Country House is by Lookin At Lucky , the champion 2-year-old male of 2009 and champion 3-year-old male of 2010 after winning the Preakness Stakes (G1). By sire of sires Smart Strike, Lookin At Lucky is the sire of 63 stakes winners and stands for $20,000. He is also the sire of Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and champion older dirt male Accelerate , grade 1 winner Wow Cat, and this year's Louisiana Derby winner, Wells Bayou.

Country House is produced from the winning War Chant mare Quake Lake, a half sister to graded stakes winner and multiple grade 1-placed Breaking Lucky , who is also by Lookin At Lucky. Quake Lake and Breaking Lucky are out of the Shields-bred and -owned grade 1-placed Sky Classic mare Shooting Party. Country House is a half brother to Mitchell Road, the winner of the 2019 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course and an earner of $501,893.

PORTER: Country House a New Feather in Lookin At Lucky's Cap

To earn a lifetime breeding right to Country House through Darby Dan's "Share the Upside" program, breeders will be required to do the following: pay a $500 non-refundable enrollment fee; breed one mare in the first year (2021) at the reduced stud fee of $5,000, stands and nurses; breed one mare in the second year (2022) at the reduced fee of $5,000, stands and nurses; have two live foals; and pay both stud fees. The lifetime breeding right begins in the stallion's third year (2023) at stud, assuming two live foals were produced and both stud fees have been paid.

Country House has taken up residence at Darby Dan Farm and is available for inspection.