Sadler's Joy Sold, Will Enter Stud in Turkey

Grade 1 winner Sadler's Joy  has been sold to owner/breeder Arif Kurtel and will enter stud next year at his farm in Turkey.

Kurtel purchased Catapult , another son of Kitten's Joy  , at the 2019 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $50,000 out of Lane's End's consignment. The reception to the grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner was so strong that Kurtel went looking for another El Prado -line stallion.

"We were working to purchase Sadler's Joy for the last six to seven months," said said Murat Sancal with Sancal Racing, who helps Kurtel identify and acquire stallions. In August, the owner/breeder acquired grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner and freshman sire War Correspondent  . Kurtel also stands Avery Island , Tizway , and Air Vice Marshal .

Initially, Kurtel had hoped to race Sadler's Joy in the 2,400-meter (12-furlong) International Bosphorus Cup (G2) Sept. 4 at Veliefendi Race Course in Istanbul but the shipping regulations prevented him from getting the 8-year-old to Turkey in time, according to Sancal.

"He is a wonderful racehorse, and we want to thank longtime trainer Tom Albertrani for keeping him sound while he raced in high-level races. We also recognize how much his owner/breeder loves this horse by all the details they asked for before they said 'Yes.'

"We will give him the best opportunities to prove himself as a stallion and at the same time have a happy life," Sancal said.

Sadler's Joy is a homebred for Woodslane Farm. He was bred out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire, who also is the dam of stakes-placed winners Lunaire and Dyna Passer. Dynaire is out of grade 3 stakes winner Binya, who is a half sister to grade 1 winner Sabin and the dam of grade 2-placed winner Beau Belle and stakes-placed winner Be Perfect.

Sadler's Joy was trained solely by Albertrani and won or placed in 18 graded stakes. His best performances were wins in the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) and Pan American Stakes (G2T) in 2017, the Mac Diarmida Stakes (G2T) in 2018, and the Red Smith Stakes (G3T) in 2019. He was third in the 2018 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). He retired with a 7-4-11 record from 37 starts and earned $2,679,910.

Sancal said he expects the horse to be shipped to Turkey early in November.