Dialed In retired to Darby Dan Farm

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Lexington, KY (Sports Network) - Dialed In, the 2011 Kentucky Derby favorite, has been retired from racing and will stand the 2013 breeding season at Darby Dan Farm in Kentucky.

Dialed In, who underwent knee surgery last year, made his last start in an allowance/optional claiming race on March 3 at Gulfstream Park. Before that start he had been idle since a fourth-place finish in the 2011 Preakness Stakes.

"This horse will be as bittersweet of a story for me as I'll ever have," said trainer Nick Zito. "He showed how brilliantly gifted he was breaking his maiden at Churchill first-time out, and then winning the Holy Bull like he did in his second start, before of course winning the Florida Derby. But I truly believe with all my heart that this horse would have been in the Hall of Fame had he not had a nagging injury. I know the phrase gets overused in this game, but Dialed In was truly one of the best -- if not the best -- I ever trained. He was up there with Unbridled's Song, Bellamy Road, Commentator, War Pass, all of them. I am passionate about him."

The colt went off as the 5-1 favorite in the 137th Kentucky Derby after posting victories in the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby with a second sandwiched between in an allowance race versus older thoroughbreds. Dialed In, ridden by Julien Leparoux, finished eighth in the Run for the Roses after running last in the 19-horse field.

The 4-year-old, who raced for owner Robert LaPenta, finishes his career with three wins in seven starts for $941,936.

"Dialed In is the most talented and exciting horse I've ever owned, and with his pedigree and physical presence, I just had to stay in the deal so that I could breed mares to him and help make him a success again in his new career," said LaPenta who will support him with mares.

Dialed In has been acquired by a group led by Doug Cauthen of Doug Cauthen Thoroughbred Management LLC, and Robert Hammond, General Manager of Darby Dan Farm.