Grade 1 winner Zandon is retired to stand at Spendthrift Farm

Zandon, a Grade 1 winner and earner of $2.2 million, has been retired from racing and has arrived at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., where he will take up stud duty in 2024.

The dark bay colt will stand for an introductory fee of $12,500 standing and nursing and will participate in Spendthrift’s “share the upside” program on a limited basis for a fee of $15,000 for two years.

“We are excited about Zandon and the ability to offer a Grade 1 winner with his physical through our share-the-upside program. He’s what they should look like,” Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey said. “You won’t find many Grade 1 winners in town that look and move the way he does. He’s a big, classy individual with a beautiful, smooth gait, which is likely why he was able to remain so sound through the rigors of competing against the best of his generation for two straight years. We believe breeders are really going to like him, and we invite them to come out and see for themselves.”

Trained by Chad Brown, Zandon broke his maiden on debut as a 2-year-old at six furlongs at Belmont before falling a nose short in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct when second to eventual classic winner Mo Donegal in his only other start as a juvenile. At 3, Zandon won the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) going away by 2 1/2 lengths, making him a favorite for the Kentucky Derby.

Zandon finished a close third behind Rich Strike and Epicenter in the Derby at Churchill and continued to prove his class against the best sophomores in the country last year. He finished runner-up to Epicenter in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga and was on the board behind that rival again in the prestigious Travers Stakes (G1). It took another Eclipse finalist to defeat him in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1), running second to Taiba while finishing ahead of multiple Grade 1 winners Cyberknife and White Abarrio.

This year at 4, Zandon was a gallant runner-up to champion Cody’s Wish in the storied Metropolitan Mile (G1) at Belmont, again finishing ahead of multiple Grade 1 winners White Abarrio, Dr. Schivel and a decorated field while earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Zandon faced the best again in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga, beaten only by eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic champion White Abarrio while finishing ahead of Cody’s Wish and the remainder of the field. He went on to easily capture the Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct last month by 4 1/4 lengths, running 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.48 and earning a 104 Beyer.

Campaigned by owner Jeff Drown, Zandon is by Upstart and out of the Creative Cause mare Memories Prevail, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Cairo Memories. His share-the-upside fee will be $15,000 S&N for two years. After the breeder has two live foals and pays the stud fees, he or she will earn a lifetime breeding right as early as 2026.