Secret Circle to Stand at Hill 'n' Dale

Top sprinter Secret Circle, whose retirement was announced in September, has found a home at stud at John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms, per an Oct. 14 release.

Winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint, the Xpressbet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), and the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), the 6-year-old son of Eddington   will stand for $5,000 in 2016 or $7,500 payable out of proceeds.

BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Top Sprinter Secret Circle Retired to Stud

Secret Circle retired with career earnings of $3,670,790 after winning or placing in 15 of his 16 lifetime starts for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman. 

The Bob Baffert trainee was bred in Kentucky by Willmott Stables out of the Dixieland Band mare Ragtime Hope. The Unbridled/Dixieland Band cross has produced several quality runners, including graded winners Cotton Blossom, Eight Belles, and Sindy With An S.

After going through the ring as a $17,000 RNA from the Longfield Farm consignment at the 2010 Keeneland September yearling sale, Secret Circle was a $165,000 purchase from the 2011 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s selected sale of 2-year-olds in training when consigned by Flying Fish, agent. He immediately showed speed as a 2-year-old, when he capped his unbeaten campaign with a win in the Juvenile Sprint. His lifetime record sits at 8-6-1, and he won from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

"Secret Circle was ridiculously fast and could run horses off their feet. He is a big-bodied, beautiful horse and a study in great conformation," Baffert said. "Mike, Karl, and Paul all feel they owe it to Secret Circle to support him in the same way they did Midnight Lute  , a two time Breeders Cup winner as well. They look forward to breeding and buying mares that will suit him. You can't breed to a horse with his looks and race record at this price."

"The owners want to stand out in the marketplace and I believe they will with this outstanding racehorse," Sikura said.

Pegram added, "We are insistent that Secret Circle be ultra-competitive with all the incentive-laden programs in place for breeders. With that in mind, we have set his fee at $5,000 stands and nurses or $7,500 payable out of proceeds. Any breeder that breeds a mare in the first two years will breed for free in his third year at stud. We think that's a lot of horse for the price."

Secret Circle will be available for inspection at Hill 'n' Dale's open house Oct. 17, Oct. 18, and Nov. 1.