Dortmund Sold and Exported to South Korea

Freshman sire and multiple grade 1 winner Dortmund was exported Dec. 22 to South Korea where he will stand as the property of a Korean ophthalmologist, according to owner/breeder Kaleem Shah.

Shah, who raced the 8-year-old son of Big Brown  primarily with trainer Bob Baffert and some with Art Sherman, said the deal to sell Dortmund was made back in June following the 2020 breeding season.

"I understand the concerns with South Korea," said Shah. "I have made sure that he can never be sold for slaughter or if at any time they cannot take care of him, I will get the horse back and give him a good life here, perhaps at a retirement farm."

Dortmund entered stud in 2018 at Bonita Farm in Maryland where he stood for an initial fee of $7,500. The state had seven other new stallions that year and the competition for mares in both Maryland and Pennsylvania was fierce, according to farm owner Bill Boniface.

"I've been standing stallions for 60 years and thought I had the right horse at the right price," Boniface said. "The number of stallions is going up but the number of mares is going down. It is a very competitive market."

Dortmund attracted 25 mares his first year at stud, followed by 14 mares in 2019 and 13 mares in 2020. Boniface said he has been pleased with many of the stallion's first foals that will begin racing this year.

"They are big, strong, good-boned horses," Boniface said.

Shah said he decided to sell Dortmund after a significant advertising campaign and attempts to make deals with Mid-Atlantic farms did not increase his matings. Dortmund's fee was lowered to $5,000 last year.

"Unfortunately, he was standing in a soft market in the Mid-Atlantic and there was hardly any support for him," said Shah, who added that he contacted multiple farms in the U.S. before making the deal with the Korean breeder.

"None of us have a crystal ball, but I don't think (the Korean farm) is likely to sell him for slaughter because they paid too much money for him. It would not make sense for them as business people," he said. "They will want to get their money back by breeding to him. It is sad that the American market rejected him, and I hope he can prove himself there. If not, I will get him back."

Shah bought Dortmund for $140,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale through agent Donato Lanni from Breaking Point Farm. The colt was undefeated at 2 and captured his first grade 1 in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). At 3, he won five of seven starts with his victories including the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe Stakes (G2), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), and Native Diver Stakes (G3). He also finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). He was retired in 2017 with an 8-2-2 record from 16 starts and earnings of $1,987,505.