by Leigh Nichol, for Winbak Farm

Chesapeake City, MD — Owners John Celii and George Teague announced today that they have agreed to a Stallion Management Agreement with Winbak Farm to stand world champion millionaire Badlands Nitro at Winbak Farm of New York.

“We are excited about this opportunity,” stated Winbak Farm owner Joe Thomson. “We wanted to acquire a featured Western Hanover line stallion for our New York breeding facility. Having the opportunity to stand this world champion is a great way to reinforce our New York Sire offerings. Badlands Nitro will be an outstanding addition to Winbak Farm. Combining a rapidly growing breeding facility, with a great sire prospect will provide owners an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the rich New York purse structure.”

Badlands Nitro at two, showed early speed by equaling the world record for 2-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths-mile track in 1:51.1. He has career earnings of $1,499,088, earning $1.3 million of that as a 3-year-old, winning the Hempt, the Art Rooney and Battle of the Brandywine. Badlands Nitro also finished strong seconds in the North America Cup, the Cane Pace, an elimination of the Little Brown Jug and the Windy City Pace.

George Teague, trainer and co-owner of Badlands Nitro, touted the colt’s grit and ability.

“Badlands Nitro is one of the most complete horses I have ever trained; he is versatile, sound and most importantly he has stepped up when he has needed to. He is one of the most professional horses I have ever worked with.”

Badlands Nitro will be standing in New York where the purses for the sire stakes have been estimated at $15 million for 2009 and the finals are raced at Yonkers Raceway. In 2007, 80 percent of the horses that were eligible to the New York Sire Stakes were able to compete in the sire stakes program.

“We evaluated multiple opportunities for Badlands Nitro,” stated co-owner John Celii. “We chose Winbak, New York because of the excellent job Winbak performed standing Badlands Hanover and their successful track record as breeders. Badlands Nitro will become a featured stallion at Winbak, having offspring eligible for the rich and improving purse structure in New York, including the lucrative New York Sire Stakes program. Badlands Nitro has proven himself as a small track champion, which is an excellent match for the New York track structures. We are in the process of completing a Badlands Nitro Syndicate Agreement, which will allow other breeders to participate in lifetime breeding rights.”

No other terms or conditions were disclosed.