Borrego retired

Borrego captured both Grade 1 victories as a four-year-old  (Deborah Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Multiple Grade 1 winner BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) has been retired and will stand the 2007 breeding season at Wintergreen Stallion Station near
Midway, Kentucky. The five-year-old won last year’s Pacific Classic (G1) and
Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1) before finishing unplaced in the Breeders’ Cup
Classic (G1).

“Borrego underwent surgery in early April to remove a chip from his right
front ankle,” trainer Beau Greely said in a statement. “Preliminary reports said
that Borrego would be back in training 30 days post surgery, but we were told
after the surgery that the recovery time would be lengthier than originally
expected. Our goal was to start in the Pacific Classic and retire after the
Breeders’ Cup Classic. With the extended recovery period we would miss several
races leading up to the Breeders’ Cup which would get us there less than 100
percent fit. In light of this and Borrego’s value as a stallion, we have decided
to retire him.”

Borrego placed in eight other stakes races, six graded, including the
Hollywood Gold Cup H. (G1), Santa Anita H. (G1), Arkansas Derby (G2), Louisiana
Derby (G2), Super Derby (G2) and Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2). The chestnut will head to
the breeding shed with a record of 20-5-6-2 and $2,052,090 in earnings.

Borrego is out of the Strike the Gold mare Sweet as Honey, who is a
half-sister to Canadian champion Truth of It All (Proud Truth) and multiple
Grade 1 winner I Ain’t Bluffing (Pine Bluff). His fourth dam,
Smart Deb (Dedicate), was named champion two-year-old filly of 1962.