Reliance Ranches of Guthrie, Okla., announced Oct. 28 the purchase of American Anthem , a graded stakes winner by Arkansas Derby (G1) winner and classic-placed sire Bodemeister. American Anthem is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Indy's Windy, a half sister to 1998 champion 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze.
American Anthem's sale for stud duty was brokered by Patrick Morell of Morell Bloodstock. He will stand at Sierra Blanca Equine in Alamogordo, N.M. Fee pricing is available through contact with Sierra Blanca Equine.
American Anthem began his career by breaking his maiden in December of his 2-year-old year at Del Mar. Trained at the time by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the colt followed up that effort with a successful 3-year-old season, including back-to-back graded victories in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park and the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park. He finished the season with thirds in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G1).
As a 4-year-old, American Anthem added another graded score to his résumé when capturing the San Carlos Stakes (G2) and notched an allowance optional claiming victory at 5 last year.
He was sold last fall during the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale by consignor WinStar Racing to Don Tiger for $145,000. To that point, he had raced for a partnership headed by China Horse Club and WinStar Farm that included at times Head of Plains Partners and SF Racing.
Racing for Tiger, he finished third in this year's Runhappy Carter Handicap (G1) at Belmont as a 6-year-old for trainer Danny Gargan before winding down his career with trainer Mike Maker. In total, American Anthem finished on the board in 13 of 21 career starts with earnings of $848,490
Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, American Anthem was first sold to E. J. Stable for $180,000 when consigned by Select Sales to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. WinStar Farm and China Horse Club then paid $435,000 for him at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training when he was consigned by Hoppel's Horse & Cattle Co.
