Phillip Sagan | Horse Racing Free Tips

Three-time graded winner and runner-up in the 2023 GI Kentucky Derby Two Phil's (Hard Spun-Mia Torri, by General Quarters) will stand the 2024 season at WinStar Farm near Lexington. His retirement was previously announced after the chestnut suffered an ankle injury during his win in the June 24 GIII Ohio Derby. A fee will be revealed later.

“We have been looking for a Danzig-line horse that meets our standard of physicality, pedigree, and race record for some time now,” said Elliott Walden, president, CEO, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. “I think Two Phil's could have been the best 3-year-old in the country if his career had not been cut short after his dominant win in the Ohio Derby with a 5 Ragozin, 105 Beyer, and a negative 3/4 on Thorograph. However you look at it, he is top class.”

After a solid 2-year-old season which was highlighted by a win in Churchill's GIII Street Sense S., Two Phil's burst onto the national scene with placings in the GII Risen Star S. and GIII Lecomte S. prior to a dominant victory in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway in March, which propelled him to the Kentucky Derby. Bred by Phillip Sagan and campaigned by Sagan, Patricia's Hope LLC, and Madaket Stables, Two Phil's just missed to Mage (Good Magic) in the Derby. Skipping the rest of the Triple Crown races, he was routed to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown, where he attained a third consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure (105). His Beyers in the Jeff Ruby and Kentucky Derby were 101 and 105, respectively.

“From the time he came into my barn at two, Two Phil's was a standout,” said trainer Larry Rivelli. “He is the best horse I have ever trained, and I look forward to his babies.”

Two Phil's retires with a record of 10-5-2-1 and earnings of $1,583,450.

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Patricia's Hope LLC, Phillip Sagan and Madaket Stables' Two Phil's (Hard Spun–Mia Torri, by General Quarters), a two-time graded winner and runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby, has been officially retired from racing after suffering an ankle injury during the June 24 GIII Ohio Derby. Daily Racing Form was first to confirm the news.

Bred by Sagan from his dual-stakes winning mare Mia Torri, Two Phil's graduated at second asking at Colonial Downs last July before romping by nearly 10 lengths in the Shakopee Juvenile at Canterbury Sept. 17. A wide-trip seventh behind Forte (Violence) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Oct. 8, the chestnut belied odds of 7-1 to take out the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs 22 days later before hitting the shelf.

Runner-up in the GIII Lecomte S. and third in the GII Risen Star S. to begin his sophomore season, Two Phil's was set a softer task in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks Mar. 25 and he punched his ticket to the Derby with a convincing 5 1/4-length success. One of just four in the Run for the Roses to jump at single digits, Two Phil's was ridden close to a pace that would ultimately prove the undoing of any horse that raced prominently, but was sent up inside to lead on the turn and boxed on determinedly to finish a length behind Mage (Good Magic) in second with Madaket having bought into the colt. Having decided against a trip to the GI Preakness S., connections opted for the June 24 GIII Ohio Derby and he won by an authoritative 5 3/4 lengths beneath Gerardo Corrales, subbing for the injured Jareth Loveberry.

It was first reported that Two Phil's was sent to Rood and Riddle for evaluation of the injury, but DRF clarified that the colt had remained in Rivelli's barn and that images of the ankle were transmitted to Dr. Larry Bramlage at the equine hospital. DRF reports that a fractured sesamoid had been diagnosed and that the prognosis for a full recovery was 'poor to fair,' trainer Larry Rivelli told the Form.

“It's devastating. This is the fastest horse I've ever trained, and he was just blossoming,” the Hawthorne-based Rivelli told DRF.

A stud deal has not yet been finalized, DRF reported, but added that Two Phil's would be sent to Kentucky “sometime in the next week” to be shown as a stallion prospect.

Two Phil's retires with a lifetime record of 5-2-1 from 10 starts for earnings of $1,583,450.

The post Two Phil’s Retired appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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