GRADE 1 METROPOLITAN MILE WINNER DIVINE PARK RETIRED TO AIRDRIE STUD.

 

DIVINE PARK, track record holder and a triple graded stakes winner at a mile, including the 2008 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Mr. and Mrs. Brereton C. Jones’s Airdrie Stud for the 2009 season.

 

Racing in the colors of James J. Barry, for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Divine Park won his first three career starts, culminating with a win in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes, over a mile, stopping the clock in 1:34 2/5.  At four, in 2008, Divine Park garnered national attention when taking the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont by 5 lengths, running the mile event in 1:32.3, just 2/5 off the track record.  Divine Park returned less than a month later to take the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont, defeating multiple Grade 1 winner Commentator by 2 lengths.  Divine Park also established a track record over Keeneland’s polytrack when covering 7 furlongs in 1:21 flat.

 

A son of leading sire Chester House, himself the sire of a phenomenal 17 stakes winners in 2008, and from the female family of the Blue Hen mare Honor an Offer, dam of Grade 1 winners Sardula and Imperial Gesture.  Divine Park finishes his career with 6 wins in 9 starts and earnings over $607,000.

 

Brereton Jones said “Divine Park absolutely checks every box for a major stallion prospect.  He’s a Grade 1 winner of one of the great stallion-making races, the Met Mile, he’s by a stallion who left us too early but who established himself as an elite sire both nationally and overseas.  Plus he will be one of the best looking stallions in our barn, he’s gorgeous.  Jim Barry and Kiaran McLaughlin are two of the truly good people in racing and we at Airdrie are very grateful for the opportunity to stand a horse with the great promise of Divine Park.”

 

DIVINE PARK WILL STAND FOR A FEE OF $17,500.