Benny the Bull, the nation’s champion sprinter in 2008 when he won all four of his starts, has been retired from racing and acquired by Greg James. Details are currently being finalized for the horse to stand stud.
     “I’m very proud of Benny the Bull’s racing career and have enjoyed it every step,” James said. “To acquire him as a yearling and watch him develop into such a brilliant and accomplished racehorse was a great thrill, and I really believe his brilliance can translate to success in the breeding shed. He deserves the chance, and we’re excited about it.
     “I’m appreciative of the Benny the Bull racing partnership and it’s encouraging to know that he’ll continue to have support on that end in his stud career.”
     James raced Benny the Bull through the first nine starts of his career, when his accomplishments included a win in the Iowa Sprint Handicap in June 2007 for trainer Jeff Talley. Shortly thereafter, James sold controlling interest in Benny the Bull to a partnership headed by IEAH Stables and retained an ownership interest in the deal.
     Benny the Bull went on to become a multiple Grade 1 stakes winner (Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash, Dubai Golden Shaheen) under trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.’s guidance. His accomplishments included a second-place finish in Saratoga’s Grade 1 Forego when he finished behind Midnight Lute, who went on to twice win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and received a lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 119. He posted Beyer Speed Figures greater than 100 in 10 starts, earned a 115 in winning Gulfstream Park’s Sunshine Millions Sprint with six furlongs in 1:08 2/5, and once won a Churchill Downs allowance in 1:07 3/5 for the same trip.
     IEAH Stables and partners have retained breeding rights in Benny the Bull, and will support the horse in his stud career.
     “’’Benny’ always came to run and was long one of my favorites at the barn,” said Michael Iavarone, president of IEAH Stables. “He gave us plenty of thrills and his ability and heart cannot be questioned.
     “He was exceptional in his championship season, but the grit he showed in coming back in 2009 to finish second to a horse the quality of Fabulous Strike off a layoff of 11 months really showed me what type of racehorse he was. We’re excited to support him in the breeding shed, and were willing to give Greg the right of first refusal upon any sale of the horse and keep ‘Benny’ in the family.”
     Benny the Bull, a 6-year-old horse by Lucky Lionel – Comet Cat, by Birdonthewire, retires with a record of 9-3-2 from 20 starts and earnings of $2,353,430. He was bred in Florida by Tomoka Farms, Inc.

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Champion Benny the Bull to Vinery in Florida
     Eclipse Award-winning sprinter Benny the Bull will stand in 2010 at Tom Simon’s Vinery near Summerfield, Fla., according to Vinery president Tom Ludt. The 6-year-old son of Lucky Lionel   will stand for $4,000.
     Bred in Florida by Tomoka Hills Farms, Benny the Bull was purchased at the 2004 Keeneland September yearling sale for $38,000 by Greg James. James campaigned Benny the Bull through the early part of his racing career, which included a win in the 2007 Iowa Sprint Handicap in his stakes debut. At that point, James sold a major interest in the colt to a group that included IEAH Stables (Michael Iavarone, president). In the IEAH colors later that year, Benny the Bull went on to win the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (gr. I), finish second in the Forego Stakes (gr. I), and run fourth in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. II).
     In 2008, Benny the Bull went undefeated in four starts. He won the Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park, then shipped to Dubai to take the Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I). Returned to the United States, he won the True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont Park and the Smile Sprint Handicap (gr. II) at Calder Race Course. He was honored with an Eclipse Award and champion older male honors as top sprinter in Dubai.
     In 2009, Benny the Bull ran second in the True North and the Smile Sprint. For his career, he won or placed in 14 of 20 starts and earned $2,353,430.
     “Benny the Bull has been a dream horse--talented, totally sound, and brilliantly fast,” James said. “I’m very excited about his future at Vinery, and with the stud fee we have decided on, I think he will offer breeders a wonderful opportunity to breed to a champion at a very fair and reasonable price.”
     Benny the Bull is out of the stakes-winning Birdonthewire mare Comet Cat.

     The name game: Greg James, original owner and still a part-owner of Benny the Bull: "Benny the Bull is named by my daughter Ericka. Benny the Bull is a cartoon character on Dora the Explorer. I guess she gets credit for that great name."
     LAST UPDATED: December 17, 2009