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Hill ‘n’ Dale Joins TrueNicks

Hill ‘n' Dale Farms is the latest major Kentucky farm to enroll its stallions on TrueNicks, allowing users to run complimentary ratings on a roster of 13 stallions.

Place of honor in Hill ‘n' Dale team has to go to veteran Theatrical (IRE) (TrueNicks, SRO). A champion in Ireland and the U.S., the son of Nureyev is billed as a "Living Legend," and not without reason. He has sired 77 stakes winners, 54 group or graded stakes winners, and no less than 22 group or grade I winners, the most recent being the Arlington Classic (gr. I) winner Winchester. Of course, one of Theatrical's most talented versatile grade I winners, Shakespeare (TrueNicks, SRO), stands alongside his sire, and recently completed his first season at stud.

Coincidentally, the most expensive horse currently standing at Hill ‘n' Dale, Stormy Atlantic (TrueNicks, SRO), is related to Theatrical, as his third dam, Horse of the Year Moccasin, is a sister to Thong, the granddam of Theatrical's sire, Nureyev. The brilliantly speed Stormy Atlantic has certainly lived up to his pedigree, and after beginning his career relatively inexpensively in Florida, has attained a position as one of Storm Cat's most important stallion sons. The leading sire of 2-year-olds for 2006, Stormy Atlantic is currently ranked seventh on the leading sires list and has seven 2008 stakes winners, the most recent being My Princess Jess, who took the Lake George Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga July 25.

The other proven sires at Hill ‘n' Dale are Seeking the Gold's consistent son Mutakddim (TrueNicks, SRO), and El Corredor (TrueNicks, SRO), who has 12 stakes winners in his first three crops, including grade I winners Adieu and Dominican, and current 3-year-olds El Gato Malo (a two-time graded stakes winner in 2008) and Backseat Rhythm, who took the Lake Placid Stakes (gr. III) at Saratoga.

Hill ‘n' Dale also stand several promising young horses, including undefeated Candy Ride (ARG) (TrueNicks, SRO) (whose first-crop 2-year-olds already include the Sorrento Stakes (gr. III) heroine Evita Argentina and impressive Saratoga debutant winner Capt. Candyman Can ; Haskell Stakes (gr. I) winner Roman Ruler (TrueNicks, SRO); Kentucky Derby (gr. I) runner-up Closing Argument (TrueNicks, SRO); and grade II winner Grand Reward (TrueNicks, SRO) (by Storm Cat out of Serena's Song), who all have first yearlings in 2008.

Joining the team for 2009 are Heatseeker (TrueNicks, SRO) and Seeking the Dia (TrueNicks, SRO), a son of Giant's Causeway (TrueNicks, SRO), who was group I-placed at 2, and was a powerhouse older horse in 2008, winning the Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) and Californian Stakes (gr. II) in a new track record. Seeking the Dia, a son of Storm Cat, raced in Japan, where he earned over $5 million. Seeking the Dia won from seven furlongs on both dirt and turf, winning four graded events. He also earned runner-up spot in nine grade I events, including the Mile Championship, and back-to-back renewals of the Japan Cup Dirt, once beaten just a nose. Seeking the Dia is out of Seeking the Pearl, a grade I winner in France and Japan,who was champion older mare in Europe. Seeking the Pearl is a granddaughter of Barb's Bold, a graded stakes placed half-sister to Lyphard.

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