Graydar retired with injury

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Nicholasville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - The injured hoof that prevented him from running in last week's Breeders' Cup, has forced Graydar into retirement.

"Graydar's quarter crack that forced us to miss the Breeders' Cup wasn't healing like we hoped to be able to make the Cigar Mile or any other Grade 1s left on the racing calendar," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "He's among the most talented horses I've had the privilege to train."

The gray 4-year-old son of Unbridled's Song has a quarter crack in his left front hoof and was unable to start in the Dirt Mile last Friday at Santa Anita.

Graydar, owned by Twin Creeks Racing Stables, has been retired to Taylor Made Stallions with a 2014 stud fee of $15,000.

"Graydar is the closest thing I've seen to Unbridled's Song, and obviously we've had the privilege to be around a lot of good ones through the years," said Taylor Made President & CEO Duncan Taylor. "His combination of looks, class, and sheer brilliance remind me of his sire, both on and off the racetrack, and he has that special presence about him like Unbridled's Song had. We're extremely excited about Graydar and look forward to continuing our great relationship with Steve Davison, Randy Gullatt and the group at Twin Creeks. We've always felt that Graydar would be a great heir to carry on his terrific sire line."

The colt won the Kelso Stakes on Sept. 28 at Belmont Park to claim his third win of the year in as many starts. He also won the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds.

"The performance that will always stand out to me was his Donn Handicap win this year," Pletcher noted. "You just don't see horses turn in a dominant performance on that stage in just their fourth career start. It was very special, and knowing this horse and how brilliantly fast and good looking he is, I'm very excited about his future as a stallion."

Overall, Graydar won five of six career starts for $841,560.