by Dean Hoffman

Last year’s Hambletonian winner Amigo Hall will enter the stud at Tara Hills Stud in Ontario next season, standing for a fee of C$7,500.

The son of Balanced Image retires with nine wins in 25 career starts and earnings of US$928,183. He won trotting’s biggest prize when Mike Lachance piloted him to victory in the 2003 Hambletonian over Sugar Trader and Mac’s Crown K. He later took a 1:54 mark in winning at Mohawk. As a 3-year-old, Amigo Hall was 8-4-3 in 16 starts and earned US$896,209.

Amigo Hall was bred by Walnut Hall Limited and raced by Walnut Hall in partnership with the Burgess family of Ontario. Popular horseman Blair Burgess handled the training duties. Walnut Hall has sold its interest in Amigo Hall to the Burgess family. The Hambo winner’s dam is the good Meadow Road matron Ali’s Cat.