Bandini to stand at Walmac

Grade 1 winner BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus) will enter stud in 2007 at Walmac

Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. The four-year-old, from the first crop of

Fusaichi Pegasus, will stand for a fee of $17,500 live foal as the property of a

syndicate.

At three, Bandini finished a close second in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2)

before rolling to a six-length triumph in the Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland.

The Todd Pletcher trainee was sent postward as the third choice in the Kentucky

Derby (G1), but injured an ankle during the running of the 10-furlong classic

and missed the rest of the year.

Bandini returned to action this year with a record-setting performance at

Gulfstream Park, then won the 1 1/8-mile Skip Away H. (G3) before finishing

fourth in the Metropolitan H. (G1) in what turned out to be his final career

start. The dark bay colt won five of nine starts and earned $676,380.

"I thought his Blue Grass was a top-level three-year-old performance,"

Pletcher said. "Unfortunately, he never met his full potential as a

four-year-old because of an ankle injury, but he is a tremendous stallion

prospect. He has all the qualities you want to see in a top-level racehorse;

he's good looking, a good mover and courageous."

Bandini is out of the stakes-placed Dixieland Band mare Divine Dixie, a

half-sister to stakes winner and successful sire Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat).

His fourth dam, Moccasin, was named Horse of the Year and champion two-year-old

of 1965. The noted Claiborne Farm broodmare produced English and Irish champion

Apalachee (Round Table) and Irish champion Belted Earl (Damascus).