retirements | Horse Racing Free Tips

McKinzie Retired To Gainesway Farm For 2021 Breeding Season

McKinzie, a four-time Grade 1 winner, has been retired from racing, and he will begin his stallion career at Gainesway in Lexington, Ky., for the 2021 breeding season, the Daily Racing Form reports.

The 5-year-old son of Street Sense was under consideration for this year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland. Instead, he finishes his career with eight wins in 18 starts for earnings of $3,473,360.

Trained by Bob Baffert for owners Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, and Paul Weitman, McKinzie won on debut as a juvenile by 5 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita Park, and he parlayed that into a victory in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity. At three, McKinzie kicked off the season with a victory in the G3 Sham Stakes, and he later added wins in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby and G1 Malibu Stakes.

The colt continued to be one of the best in his class at age four, racking up wins in the G1 Whitney Stakes and G2 Alysheba Stakes, and finishing the year with a second in the Breeders' Cup Classic. This year's campaign was highlighted by a win in the G2 Triple Bend Stakes.

Arc Winner Sottsass Retired From Racing, Set To Enter Stud

A day after winning the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France, Sottsass was retired from racing, and he will stand for the Coolmore operation in 2021, Racing Post reports.

The 4-year-old Siyouni colt was campaigned in a 50/50 partnership between Peter Brant and Coolmore, the latter of which purchased its stake in January. Monday's announcement removes a key contender from this year's Breeders' Cup Turf, in which Sottsass earned a “Win and You're In” berth by virtue of his Arc score.

Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Sottsass has been a high-level runner in France over the past two seasons.

During his 3-year-old campaign last season, the colt won the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and the G2 Prix Niel at Longchamp before finishing third to Enable in that year's Arc.

At four, he won the G1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly and he finished second in the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club at Deauville ahead of his Arc victory.

Bred in France by S.A.S.U. Ecurie Des Moneaux, Sottsass is a half-brother to Sistercharlie, the 2018 Eclipse Award winner for champion turf female, who is also campaigned by Brant. Sistercharlie is a contender for this year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Grade 1 Winner She’s A Julie Retired, To Be Offered At Fasig-Tipton November Sale

She's a Julie (2015, mare by Elusive Quality out of Kydd Gloves) has been retired from racing.

“Simply put, 'Julie' is incredible,” said Peter Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds, “There are not enough words to express the admiration and gratitude I have for this mare who fiercely laid it down on the track every time we asked her to. With that said, back in the barn she is the sweetest mare in the world. I cannot thank 'Julie' enough for all that she has done for Bradley Thoroughbreds and her co-owners.”

She's a Julie finishes her career with earnings of $1,196,380 claiming two Grade 1's along with winning graded stakes at three, four, and five years of age. Her dam Kydd Gloves has the unique distinction of being one of 56 foals from the only crop of Godolphin's international champion Dubai Millennium.

She's a Julie made her 2-year-old debut a winning one under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. At three, 'Julie' began showing her true talent with victories in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks and G3 Remington Park Oaks. Between those two victories was a runner-up effort in the G1 Alabama at Saratoga Race Course.

She kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with an authoritative victory in the G3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park before notching her first G1 win in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs. The remainder of 2019 saw her place in three graded stakes including the G1 Personal Ensign.

In her final season, She's a Julie turned in her most gutsy performance getting up in the shadow of the wire to win the prestigious G1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

When asked about She's a Julie, Steve Asmussen noted, “Her talent was obvious with two Grade 1 wins on top of her other graded stakes wins and Grade 1 placings. She was the real deal on the racetrack, but you have got to see her in person to understand what a beautiful mare she is. Named after my wife, she is so very special to me and my family. It is really hard for me to let this one go.”

Bradley added, “I would be remiss not to thank Carrol and Stacy Castille, the original owners who are responsible for naming her for Steve's wife Julie, for allowing us to jump on this incredible adventure. Under the tutelage of Steve Asmussen, Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, Ronnie Warner, Toby Sheets and the entire Asmussen team, 'Julie' was able to show her extraordinary talent and was always cared for like the most exceptional individual that she is. The bond she shared with her regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. is undeniable. When Julie needed a respite to prepare for her five-year-old campaign, we entrusted her care to Becky Maker. To 'Julie's' entire team, thank you. Although her retirement from racing is the end of an era, one thing is for certain, 'Julie' has a big team rooting her on in her next career!”

She's a Julie will be offered as a broodmare prospect with Denali Stud at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November “Night of the Stars” Sale on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Lexington, Ky.

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Grade 1 Winner Promises Fulfilled Retired To WinStar Farm

Robert J. Baron and WinStar Farm's Grade 1-winning millionaire Promises Fulfilled has been retired from racing and will enter stud at WinStar for the 2021 breeding season, the farm announced today. His fee has been set at $10,000 S&N.

In an outstanding racing career for trainer Dale Romans, Promises Fulfilled, a son of classic winner and three-time Grade 1 winner Shackleford, won five graded stakes at distances from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles—winning the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes, G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, G2 John A. Nerud Stakes, G2 Phoenix Stakes, and G3 Amsterdam Stakes, competing exclusively in graded stakes company following his first two victories at two.

“When we look for stallion prospects, we want brilliance,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar's president, CEO, and racing manager. “Promises Fulfilled not only meets that criteria but brings the added benefit of durability, a rare trait for horses with his speed. When you look at his past performances, you see him in front in 15-of-17 starts, no matter the distance. You see him running at least :44 and change six different times in graded stakes and he competed in 15 graded stakes, including eight Grade 1s. We are excited to offer our full support to him and include him in our “Dream Big Lifetime Breeding Right Program.”

At three, Promises Fulfilled stamped himself as a leading sophomore right out of the gate with an emphatic wire-to-wire win in Gulfstream Park's $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes in his seasonal debut, defeating 2-year-old champion and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Good Magic and earning himself a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

Over the summer, he asserted himself as a premier sprinter, running his rivals off their feet in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga. He got six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 en route to a dominating 3 1/4-length win in a final time of 1:15, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure. He returned a month later to annex the prestigious H. Allen Jerkens, where he once again proved uncatchable, winning the $500,000 seven-furlong event gate to wire in 1:21 2/5, leaving in his wake Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire. Promises Fulfilled made it three consecutive Graded triumphs with a determined victory in the Phoenix S. at Keeneland, beating older Grade 1 winner Whitmore.

At four in 2019 in yet another authoritative performance, Promises Fulfilled rolled to a 4 1/2-length win in the John A. Nerud S. at Belmont Park, recording a career-best 108 Beyer. All told, the handsome chestnut retires with seven wins and three placings from 17 starts and earnings of $1,455,530.

“Promises Fulfilled ranks right up there with the best horses I've trained,” said Dale Romans. “He's a lot like his sire in the mental toughness department and he is an extremely intelligent horse. He won major races on all the main stages—Gulfstream, Keeneland, Saratoga, and Belmont.”

Bred in Kentucky by David Jacobs, Promises Fulfilled hails from the Storm Cat line, being a son of Shackleford, winner of the Preakness Stakes, G1 Clark Handicap, and G1 Metropolitan Handicap during his accomplished racing career. Promises Fulfilled is produced from the multiple graded stakes-placed Marquetry mare Marquee Delivery and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner and graded stakes-placed Marquee Miss.

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