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| Staff Writer |
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Country Grammer, a multiple Group one winner and the third-leading earner among North America-based horses, has retired and will be standing at WinStar Farm for the 2024 breeding season. The 6YO son of Tonalist will be available for a fee of US$10,000 for live foal stands and nurses guarantee. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and campaigned by Commonwealth, WinStar Farm, and Zedan Racing Stables, Country Grammer earned a total of US$14,801,320 throughout his racing career. His earnings make him the third-highest earner of all time, with only Arrogate and Gun Runner surpassing him.
Country Grammer's most notable victory came in the 2022 Dubai World Cup at Meydan Race Course in the United Arab Emirates, where he defeated four international Group One winners, including Hot Rod Charlie and Life Is Good. He followed that up with a strong second-place finish in the US$20 million Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Country Grammer: A Special Stallion Prospect
WinStar Farm's president, CEO, and racing manager, Elliott Walden, highlighted Country Grammer's impressive accomplishments, stating that "being a group one winner on the biggest stage in Dubai, beating 24 individual group one winners in his career, and being the third-highest earner of all time, Country Grammer makes for a special stallion prospect. He is a real throwback to the great horses of our time, and he retired sound."
In addition to his group one victories, Country Grammer won or placed in 10 graded stakes races, including the 2022 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita and the 2020 Peter Pan Stakes at Saratoga, where he defeated subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide. He also finished second in the Saudi Cup for two consecutive years (2022-23), the 2021 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita, and the 2022 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar.
Country Grammer's career started with a maiden win at Aqueduct Racetrack at just 2YO. He was bred in Kentucky by Scott and Debbie Pierce, and is a half-brother to Joyful Cadence. His dam is the winning Forestry mare Arabian Song, and his family includes Gropup one stakes winner Etoile Montante, graded stakes winner and group one $placed Bonny South, and multiple graded stakes winner Starformer. Country Grammer was sold for US$450,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2YO in Training Sale, and later acquired by WinStar Farm at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for US$110,000 after the passing of his original owner, Paul Pompa Jr.