Irish War Cry Retired, Will Stand in Maryland in 2019

Multiple graded stakes winner Irish War Cry  has been retired and will enter stud at Northview Stallion Station in Chesapeake City, Md., for the 2019 season, the farm announced Sept. 25. A fee will be announced at a later date.

By leading sire Curlin , Irish War Cry won five of 13 starts, including the 2017 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and that year's Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Tenth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), he went on to finish second in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after setting the pace. He was also fourth in the Betfair.com Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1). 

The Graham Motion trainee won the May 18 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course, but had not raced since he was pulled up while struggling with the heat during the June 16 Stephen Foster Handicap (G1) at Churchill Downs.

"Irish War Cry is such a gorgeous and talented horse," said his trainer Graham Motion. "I have not had a horse since Animal Kingdom  who has shown the kind of raw ability that he has. Unlucky not to win a grade 1, he came so close in the Belmont Stakes, but did win the Wood Memorial, which previously had been a grade 1. I look forward to training his offspring."

Owned and bred in New Jersey by Isabelle de Tomaso, Irish War Cry won four of his first five starts and retires with earnings of $1,257,060. He is out of the Polish Numbers mare Irish Sovereign and is a half brother to graded stakes winner Irish Strait and stakes-placed Irish Politics. 

"We couldn't be more thrilled to add Irish War Cry to our stallion roster," said Northview's general manager David Wade. "This horse will get the attention of breeders not only in Maryland, but throughout the entire region. He has such a presence and is so beautifully balanced that I believe mare owners will line up after they see him. We'll announce a stud fee and syndicate structure shortly."