Brownie Gets Big Book

A month before he took the big prize in one of the most exciting Kentucky Derby races in recent memory, I mentioned Big Brown as an interesting sire prospect.  His pedigree is brilliant, and offers promise to all kinds of mares, save those with an abundance of Northern Dancer blood.

Turns out that the $65,000 stud fee was neither too high nor too low:  Big Brown has signed an enviable book of mares for the 2009 breeding season.  The names read like a "who's who" of prominent racemares, including Irish Smoke, D'Enough and Wonder Lady Anne L. 

And his first year at stud won't be the last of the big names:  2008 champion juvenile filly Stardom Bound is already promised to the son of Boundary once she's retired.

Read the full release here.

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UPDATE on Stardom Bound's race career: I spoke with Jen Roytz at Three Chimneys Farm, who was kind enough to pass on this encouraging statement from IEAH president Mike Iavarone: We've got a full 3-year-old campaign mapped out for [Stardom Bound], starting with this weekend's Las Virgenes and, provided she stays happy, healthy, and sound and is competitive at the top levels of the sport, we're open to thinking of a 4-year-old campaign as well." Mr. Iavarone noted that "The public wants to see horses compete longer and we definitely want to give them that opportunity with our best horses."