by Gen Sullivan, for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation

Hamilton, NJ — Paula Campbell, President of The Standardbred Retirement Foundation, and Peter Gerry, a partner in the Arden Homestead Stable and a director of the Standardbred Retirerment Foundation, today jointly announced that Raffaello Ambrosio, a son of Victory Dream and Tishes Wish (by Arndon), will stand stallion duty in 2008 at Walnridge Farm of New Jersey. He will be one of only eight trotting stallions standing in New Jersey. All proceeds from fees collected from the breeding of Raffaello Ambrosio will benefit the SRF.

The now 12-year-old stallion enjoyed success on the racetrack for trainers Ron Gurfein and Jimmy Takter. He earned more than $810,000 during three seasons of racing and took a race record of 1:53.1 on a mile track. At 2, Raffaello Ambrosio earned $80,839 in 12 starts. At 3 he earned $392,664 chasing his stablemate, Self Possessed, placing in almost all the top stakes and winning the Galt Trot and an elimination of the Yonkers Trot. At 4 he won the Titan Cup and several open class trots.

Purchased at auction by Peter Gerry this past summer, Raffaello Ambrosio, with the exportation of Self Possessed to Italy in 2007, is the only son of the great Victory Dream standing at a commercial breeding farm in North America. From small crops of foals, he has produced two $100,000 winners and several stakes winners.

“Raffaello Ambrosio is a beautifully mannered, well-gaited and gorgeously conformed stallion standing just under 17 hands,” stated owner Peter Gerry. “On the racetrack, he enjoyed considerable success in three years of racing against the likes of Self Possessed, Magician and Fool’s Goal in races like the Hambletonian, the Yonkers Trot, the Canadian Trotting Classic, the Trot Mondial and the American-National. Accordingly, the Arden Homestead Stable will be breeding its mares to him.”

According to the breeding report from Dr. Richard Meirs, who test bred the stallion in September 2007, Raffaello Ambrosio can breed a “book of 40 to 50 mares. If he is successful in settling his mares, his book can be opened up to accommodate additional mares.”

“This is a wonderful, generous gift from Peter Gerry,” said Paula Campbell. “To have a gift like this is not only a positive thing for everyone involved, it’s a great source of renewable funding for SRF, something we always need in our ongoing mission to provide lifelong care and follow up of all SRF horses.”

Raffaello Ambrosio will stand for a fee of $2,500 to be collected upon the birth of a live foal. His foals will be eligible to be nominated to the rich New Jersey Sires Stakes, the Breeders Crown, and the International Stallion Stakes, as well as all stakes not requiring that the stallion be nominated.

For more information call (609) 342-1500 or e-mail gen@srfmail.com. Breeding contracts can also be obtained from Walnridge Farm by calling (609) 758-8208.