Ironicus Retired to Claiborne Farm

Multiple graded stakes winner Ironicus has been retired and will enter stud at Claiborne Farm for 2017, it was announced Nov. 10. The son of Distorted Humor   will command a fee of $7,500.

Ironicus won this year's Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT) in his seasonal bow May 7 and posted runner-up efforts in the grade I Woodford Reserve Manhattan on June 11 and grade I Shadwell Turf Mile Oct. 8. The 5-year-old Stuart S. Janney III homebred most recently finished fourth in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), beaten less than two lengths by race winner Tourist.

"This talented homebred had a solid race career as a three-time graded stakes winner and multiple grade I performer," Claiborne Farm representative Bernie Sams said. "We believe his accomplishments on the racetrack, as well as his impressive bloodlines make him an exciting stallion prospect."

A  half-brother to four graded stakes winners, Ironcius captured the 2015 edition of the Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) in course record time at Saratoga Race Course, recording the fastest time in a quarter century in that race when he stopped the clock in 1:38.54 for 1 1/16 miles. Fourstardave held the previous record of 1:38.91 set July 29, 1991.

Ironicus also won the 2015 grade II Longines Dixie Stakes over Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds, and ran second in the Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) by a neck to grade I-winning millionaire Grand Arch. During his career, Ironicus defeated other grade I victors including Tourist, Constitution  , Grand Arch, andLochte.

Ironicus retires as the highest earner of 2016 for Distorted Humor and the 10th highest overall with $1,148,790.  In 15 career starts, he was on the board 13 times with a record of six wins, six seconds and one third. He won or placed in six of seven graded stakes attempts.

"I think with his racing ability and pedigree, he is an outstanding value at $7,500," said Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. "He always gave great effort and I enjoyed every morning I got to train him. He deserved to win a grade I and certainly had the talent."

Ironicus is out of the winning stakes-placed A.P. Indy mare Meghan's Joy and is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Norumbega, On Leave, Hunting, and Quiet Harbor, as well as stakes winner Seal Cove, multiple graded stakes placed Minister's Joy, and Silviculture, the dam of graded stakes winner and 3-time course record setter Onus.