Combatant Retired to Rockridge Stud in New York

Combatant  , a millionaire and winner of the 2020 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Rockridge Stud near Hudson, N.Y., beginning with the 2022 season. The Hronis Racing color-bearer was sold to Brian Levings of Levings Racing in a deal brokered by Matt Bowling of Bowling Bloodstock, Colt Pike, and David Ingordo.

"I've had fun on the racing side and decided to dip a toe in the stallion market," said Levings in a release. "New York has a strong program and has shown that stallions from the Empire State can have a bright future." 

A 6-year-old son of Scat Daddy , Combatant won four of 30 starts for earnings of $1,062,915. Bred in Kentucky by Paget Bloodstock, he placed in nine black-type stakes, of which six were in graded stakes. Initially trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for owners Willis Horton Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, Combatant was an early contender on the Derby trail, placing second in Southwest Stakes (G3) and third in the Rebel Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park before settling for fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He took his connections to the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, where the bay was unplaced. Later that that year, Combatant added placings in Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T) on the turf and in the Zia Park Derby.

In 2019 as a 4-year-old, he won a pair of allowance races before Ingordo purchased him for $220,000 from Gainesway's consignment to the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

With owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler, he raced eight times. Combatant started 2020 with a third in the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) before earning the biggest triumph of his career in the Santa Anita Handicap. He ended the year with a pair of thirds in the Tokyo City Cup Stakes (G3) and the Native Diver Stakes (G3).

Out of the Boundary mare Border Dispute, Combatant is a half brother to graded stakes winner Long Lashes and the group 3-placed runner Mythical Border.

Combatant is currently being syndicated and will stand for a $7,500 fee, stands and nurses. The stallion will be in Kentucky through the end of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for inspection by interested breeders, a release from Rockridge Stud indicated.

"A grade 1-winning son of Scat Daddy is a great complement to the New York stallion market and a perfect fit for our program," said Lere Visagie, owner/manager of Rockridge Stud.