Editor's Note: An unexpected data transmission from the UAE to The Jockey Club Information Systems caused a change in earnings for some runners in the 2023 Dubai World Cup (G1), including winner Country Grammer. The change lowered Country Grammer's career earnings. His earning have since been corrected and appear in the story below.
Multiple grade 1 winner Country Grammer , the third-leading North America-based earner of all time, has been retired and will stand the 2024 breeding season at WinStar Farm. The 6-year-old son of Tonalist will stand the 2024 season for an introductory fee of $10,000 with a live foal stands and nurses guarantee.
Campaigned by Commonwealth, WinStar Farm, and Zedan Racing Stables, and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Country Grammer amassed $14,921,320 in earnings. Only the late Arrogate (2016 champion 3-year-old colt) and Gun Runner (2017 Horse of the Year and champion older male) have earned more.
In 2022, Country Grammer was a resounding winner of the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan Race Course in the United Arab Emirates, defeating four international grade 1 winners, including Hot Rod Charlie and Life Is Good . Country Grammer's impressive victory in the 26th renewal of the Dubai World Cup came on the heels of a strong second-place finish in the world's richest race, the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which marked his first start in nearly nine months.
"Being a grade 1 winner on the biggest stage in Dubai, beating 24 individual grade 1 winners in his career, and being the third-highest earner of all time, Country Grammer makes for a special stallion prospect," said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "He is a real throwback to the great horses of our time, and he retired sound."
Country Grammer demonstrated his relentless determination in the 2021 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita Park, recording a game win over grade 1 winners Royal Ship and Express Train. Ridden in the 1 1/4-mile race by Flavien Prat, Country Grammer took command at the three-eighths before being tackled by Royal Ship. Following a stretch-long battle, Country Grammer dug in late, outkicking his rival in the closing strides to prevail by a head at the wire in a brave victory, running a 110 Equibase Speed Figure (ESF) and 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
In addition to his grade 1 scores, Country Grammer captured the 2022 San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita where he was a clear-cut 4 1/2-length victor over a field that included eventual grade 1 winner Stilleto Boy. In his initial stakes score as a 3-year-old, Country Grammer defeated subsequent Dubai World Cup winner Mystic Guide in the 2020 Peter Pan Stakes (G3), run that year at Saratoga Race Course.
All told, Country Grammer won or placed in 10 graded stakes races and was runner-up consecutive years (2022-23) in the Saudi Cup. He recorded another 110 ESF and a career-high 108 Beyer in finishing a close second in the 2021 Californian Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita and finished second to undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline in the 2022 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar. Displaying a rare blend of precocity to go along with his longevity as an older horse, Country Grammer broke his maiden in just his second start at 2 in a maiden special weight at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Bred in Kentucky by Scott and Debbie Pierce, Country Grammer is by classic winner and multiple grade 1 winner Tonalist, victorious in the 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1). A half brother to the multiple graded stakes-placed Joyful Cadence, Country Grammer is out of the winning Forestry mare Arabian Song, and hails from the family of grade 1 stakes winner Etoile Montante, winner of the Prix de la Foret (G1) in France, graded stakes winner and grade 1-placed Bonny South, and multiple graded stakes winner Starformer.
A $450,000 graduate of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, Country Grammer was later acquired by WinStar Farm at the 2021 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $110,000 following the passing of original owner Paul Pompa Jr.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
