Noonmark to Sequel Stallions in New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 24, 2009 -- Graded stakes winning sprinter, Noonmark has been retired and will stand at Sequel Stallions at Keane Stud, near Amenia, New York. Noonmark will be first stallion for a new Sequel partnership consisting of principals Becky Thomas and Denis Narlinger along with prominent breeders Chester Broman, Tony Grey, and Lewis Lakin. He will be co-managed by Becky Thomas and Chris Bernhard of Hidden Lake Farm. The deal was brokered by Pedigree Consultants, LLC.

A $1,150,000 Keeneland April Two-Year-Old Noonmark raced for a partnership of George Bolton, Joan Corrigan, and Antony Beck, and was trained by Steve Assmussen. Noonmark first brought attention to his talents when taking a maiden special weight over 5½ furlongs at Belmont Park by 10¼ lengths on his second outing at two. Subsequently, he developed into a high-class sprinter, gaining a graded stakes win in the Mr. Prospector Handicap (Gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, which he captured with a Beyer Speedfigure of 106. He also placed in four other graded stakes, including when beaten just a neck by Sharp Humor in the Swale Stakes (gr. II), when second in the Churchill Downs Stakes (gr. II), and when beaten just a head in a renewal of the Aristides Stakes (gr. III) which was won in 1:08.4. In all, Noonmark won four races, $354,090 in a career that saw him defeat such outstanding speedsters as Fabulous Strike, Kelly’s Landing, In Summation, Keyed Entry, Praying For Cash, Court Folly, Elite Squadron and Mach Ride.

“He was really a nice horse to train. He had a lot of speed and a good mind and is a beautiful horse to look at. He should be a great addition to the New York stallion ranks,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. Noonmark is a son of leading sire Unbridled’s Song, out of In the Storm, a Storm Cat half-sister to the three-time grade one winner and graded stakes sire, Formal Gold. He is also from the immediate family of another notable son of Unbridled’s Song in Even the Score, a multiple graded stakes winner who is among the Nation’s leading second season sires in 2009.

Sequel Stallions principal Becky Thomas said “We are delighted to be launching our new Sequel Stallion partnership with Noonmark. The partners are going to commit to supporting Noonmark with quality mares, and for me he is a horse who has all the credentials: he broke his maiden at two in New York in brilliant style, and trained on to become a high-class sprinter, defeating many of the fastest horses of his time. By Unbridled’s Song out of a Storm Cat mare, he has a stallion’s pedigree, something that is underlined by the fact he’s similarly-bred to successful young sire, Even the Score. He also made a great impression on me when I saw him, combining many of the best physical aspects of both Unbridled's Song and Storm Cat.”

Noonmark     Sequel Stallions