Japan to Stand at Waldorf Farm

Barry Schwartz's Japan (Medaglia d'Oro–Maya, by Capote) will stand stud at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York. His introductory fee for 2016 will be $7,500 S&N.

“Japan was the most talented horse I have owned in my 37 years in racing, and he was just beginning to scratch the surface of his ability prior to his injury while training up to the [GI] Travers this summer at Saratoga,” said Schwartz. “He's a gorgeous individual by one of the best sires around in Medaglia d'Oro, and we believe he had enormous potential that went unfulfilled on the track. We believe it so much that my partners and I will be supporting Japan with some of our best mares, because this horse has a big shot at realizing that potential as a sire.”

Bred by Emory Hamilton, Japan is a full brother to MGSW and MGISP millionaire Al Khali. He also hails from the female family of MGISW Verrazano (More Than Ready), GISWs Somali Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid) and Keen Ice (Curlin) and GSW juvenile Harmonize (Scat Daddy).

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the dark bay made just five starts, following a third-out maiden win at Churchill Apr. 30 with a victory in Belmont's Easy Goer S. June 6. He was last seen finishing third in Saratoga's GII Jim Dandy S. Aug. 1. The sophomore retired with a record of 5-2-1-1 and earnings of $189,000.

“Japan was quite impressive training up to the Travers, and I was looking forward to the opportunity to face American Pharoah because he was doing so well,” said Mott. “He always worked like a good horse and was just figuring out the game before his injury. He was a horse that was only going to get better and better, and he had the potential to be any kind.”