McCraken Pensioned From Stud Duty, Retired To Old Friends

Grade 2 winner McCraken has been pensioned from stallion duty, and was relocated to Old Friends Equine Retirement in Georgetown, Ky., on March 25, BloodHorse reports.

The 10-year-old son of Ghostzapper stood his entire stallion career at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., beginning in 2019. His oldest foals are 4-year-olds of 2024.

McCraken's stud career was limited by fertility issues, ultimately siring just 51 foals, and two in his final crop, which are currently 2-year-olds. In total, he has posted 24 winners and combined progeny earnings of more than $1.8 million.

He has sired stakes winners Release McCraken and Una Palabra, as well as stakes-placed Lilmorecraken.

During his own on-track career, McCraken raced as a homebred for Whitham Thoroughbreds, winning six of 14 career starts for earnings of $869,728.

Under the guidance of trainer Ian Wilkes, McCraken won his first four starts, including the Street Sense Stakes, the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, and the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. He then finished third in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes before entering the 2017 Kentucky Derby, where he finished eighth.

Following his Triple Crown campaign, McCraken won the Matt Winn Stakes, then he finished second in the G1 Haskell Invitational Stakes.

Read more at BloodHorse.