William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon, coming off a hard-fought win over Firenze Fire in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 28, exited a routine gallop on Friday morning with a left hind sesamoid fracture and has been retired, according to multiple reports.
The 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo out of the Grade 1 stakes-placed Vindication mare, Modification, was at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, preparing for this year's Breeders' Cup world championships, at Del Mar Nov. 5-6, either in the G1 Sprint or G1 Dirt Mile.
Earlier this month, Spendthrift Farm announced that Yaupon would join its stallion roster at the conclusion of his racing career.
Bred in Kentucky by Lamantia, Betz, CoCo Equine, Magers and Burns, Yaupon won six of eight starts at 3 and 4, including the G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga and the G3 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico in 2020. His only defeats came when eighth in both the 2020 Breeders' Cup Sprint and the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier this year.
Yaupon sold as a $350,000 Keeneland September Yearling and then was acquired by the Heiligbrodts' East Hickman Bloodstock for $255,000 the following spring at the OBS June Sale.
The injury was detected while Yaupon was cooling out after a morning gallop, according to Bloodhorse.com. X-rays sent to Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood and Riddle confirmed the injury. Spendthrift's Mark Toothaker told Bloodhorse.com no surgery will be required.
Yaupon's victory in the Forego will be remembered for the tenacity he showed in deep stretch as Firenze Fire, who had engaged the Uncle Mo colt from the outset, repeatedly leaned over to savage, or bite, Yaupon's head and bridle as the wire approached. Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Yaupon's winning margin was a head and he covered seven furlongs in 1:21.74, earning a 103 Beyer Speed Figure while defeating five G1 winners.
Firenze Fire reaches over to “savage” rival Yaupon in the G1 Forego Aug. 28
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