Graded stakes winner Chitu has been retired to stud at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, where he will become the first stallion introduced to the Florida breeding market through the renowned “Share The Upside” program.
Chitu’s fee is $3,000 stands and nurses, and he’ll be offered to breeders through two program options in 2016: the “Share The Upside” program, and pay out of sales proceeds. The “Share The Upside” program offers breeders the opportunity to earn a free lifetime breeding right in Chitu after producing and paying the stud fee for two live foals in the first two years, while the pay-out-of-sales-proceeds program provides extremely flexible payment terms.
“Chitu is a very exciting stallion prospect being offered with some very exciting breeder programs, courtesy of his owner Susan Chu who is showing a big commitment to Florida and breeding many of her own top stakes-winning mares to Chitu,” said George Isaacs, Bridlewood general manager. “This horse epitomizes what I picture as the ‘Baffert physical’ – big, balanced, strong, and fast looking. Chitu proved that on the racetrack, and he’s one of those gorgeous, must-see individuals that breeders are going to like.”
“Chitu is a great stallion prospect to introduce Florida breeders to the “Share The Upside” program, which has gained widespread popularity around the country by rewarding breeders with an opportunity to realize substantial value through a free lifetime breeding right ,” he added. “Breeders will also be offered another option, and that is a pay-out-of-proceeds program. The level of flexibility and value being offered makes these the most breeder-friendly programs around, and we believe these are exactly the kinds of opportunities the Florida market is looking for.”
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said: “Chitu could have easily won a Grade 1 race anywhere in the country, he had that Grade 1 quality about him. Physically, he’s just a specimen of a horse. He has everything you look for in a good horse. What I loved about him most was his demeanor. He has a great mind to go along with that great body. I like horses that I know are going to be fast, but are also going to carry it a mile. That was Chitu.”
On the track, Chitu was an undefeated 2-year-old after being purchased for $300,000 at OBS March Select by Baffert and Donato Lanni as agent for owner Susan Chu of Tanma Corporation. The imposing chestnut colt won his debut a Hollywood Park and captured a Santa Anita allowance race in a crisp 1:08 4/5 to close out his juvenile campaign.
As a 3-year-old, Chitu stretched out around two turns in the Robert Lewis S. (G2) at Santa Anita and finished a game runner-up to Candy Boy, beaten only a half-length. He earned his way into the Kentucky Derby in his next start with a win in the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3), running 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.88 – marking the third fastest time in race history and only two-fifths of a second off the track record.
Chitu returned to sprinting for the second half of his sophomore season, impressively defeating Grade 1 winner Declassify and several older graded winners in the Damascus S. on the Breeders’ Cup undercard at Santa Anita. That performance set him up as one of the favorites for the prestigious Grade 1 Malibu S. at Santa Anita, where he set a swift pace through six furlongs in 1:08 4/5 before yielding late to champion Shared Belief, beaten only three-quarters of a length.
By champion Beholder’s sire, Henny Hughes, Chitu retires with earnings of $597,800. He is out of the A.P. Indy mare, Sea Gift.
There will be limited quantities for the “Share The Upside” and pay-out-of-proceeds programs, and both will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about Chitu and his programs, please contact George Isaacs at 352-622-5319.
