Bluegrass Cat retires due to injury
Last Saturday marked the end of road of the illustrious racing career of Bluegrass Cat. Trainer Todd Pletcher announced on Sunday a day after the Travers Stakes that he noticed Bluegrass Cat was lame in his right hind, with X-rays revealing a non-displaced fracture. As a result of the fracture, ol’ Bluegrass has now been retired from racing, and will begin his career as a stud horse.
Bluegrass, owned by WinStar Farms, will likely bring in the price of upwards of $50,000 as a stud fee, as Bluegrass is already seen as exciting a stud prospect there is in the country, absolutely deserving the high price tag.
Bluegrass Cat’s entire career marked one of being second best, finishing second to Barbaro in the Kentucky Derby, second to Jazil in the Belmont, and second to Bernardini in the Travers. Although it would be unfair to classify Bluegrass as just the classic “runner-up”, with four stakes wins under his belt, including the Grade 1 Haskell, which he won by a stakes-record of seven lengths.
“He’s had a tremendous career, a great 2-year-old career, in some ways we accomplished all we could accomplish, but it would have been great to take a shot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” - [Todd Pletcher]
Bluegrass Cat has given us Racing Fans an amazing 2006 run, and kept himself as a clear favorite the entire year, and has earned himself the right to fruitfull retirement. Our wishes go out to Bluegrass and his ownership, and hope to see continue his superb pedigree.
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