Alicia Wincze Hughes, Herald Leader

Upperline Withdrawn From Fasig-Tipton Sale, Retired to Stone Farm

The owners of 2012 Multiple Graded Stakes winner UPPERLINE (Maria’s Mon – Snowflake, Caerleon) have made the unanimous decision to withdraw the 5-year-old-mare from the Nov. 5 Fasig-Tipton Select Sale in order to keep her in partnership as a broodmare. The daughter of Maria’s Mon,  who most recently scored a victory in the Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland, on Oct. 21, will retire to Arthur Hancock’s Stone Farm.

Partners Mike Stidham, John Adger, Jack Hodge and Arthur Hancock all agreed that, while UPPERLINE certainly has commercial appeal, she also has everything they could hope for in a broodmare prospect – ability, pedigree, class and conformation.

“She has given us so much of herself with her courageous performances on the race track that we decided we didn’t want to let her go,” said Stone Farm owner and partner Arthur Hancock. “Instead, we are looking forward to her promising career as a broodmare and to the foals she will produce.”

Bred by Stonerside Stable and trained by Michael Stidham, UPPERLINE raced four years and was graded stakes-placed at two, as well as being a stakes winner at three, four, and five. She won nine races and placed another nine times, including 15 stakes races, and has the unique distinction of having won her first start at 7 furlongs and her last start at 1 1/2 miles. In addition to the recent win at Keeneland, UPPERLINE’s notable victories include the Arlington Matron S.-G3, the Bewitch S.-G3, and the Arlington Oaks-G3. She retires with earnings of $772,988.

UPPERLINE will arrive at Stone Farm in Paris, Kentucky, later this week.