River Boyne Retired With Sesamoid Injury

Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal's River Boyne was retired from racing June 18 due to a sesamoid injury. The Irish-bred multiple graded stakes winner earned $1,229,918 from a record of 9-5-4 in 25 starts.

Co-owner Tim Cohen explained that the 5-year-old horse suffered the injury while training recently. Fortunately, it is not life-threatening.

"He has been a pleasure to own," Cohen said. "He showed his grit and determination in every race. River Boyne took us on a wonderful journey of racing."

Tim and his father, Jed, and brother, Mark, are the principals in Red Baron's Barn and Rancho Temescal. They have bought several runners in Europe and have gone on to win major races in the U.S. with them. In 2017, they purchased River Boyne for 70,000 guineas (US$97,359) at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.

Trained in California by Jeff Mullins, River Boyne broke his maiden in his second stateside start at Santa Anita Park. He won two more consecutive races, including the 2018 Pasadena Stakes, and later that year added the Rainbow Stakes, La Jolla Handicap (G3T), Twilight Derby (G2T), and Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes (G2T).

River Boyne became a grade 1 winner in this year's Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) and also won the 2020 Thunder Road Stakes (G3T). In the Kilroe Mile, River Boyne came from fourth to nab favored Got Stormy by a neck.

Limestone and Tara Studs bred River Boyne, a son of Dandy Man—Clytha, by Mark of Esteem. The mare is a half sister to stakes winners Irish Fighter and Ventiquattrofogli. The latter raced in England, Germany, Italy, and Hong Kong and also won the 1995 Colonel F. W. Koester Handicap (G2T) at a mile on the turf at Santa Anita.

Because Jed Cohen enjoys racing his horses, the Cohen family will not be standing River Boyne at stud.

"We look forward to discussing that future with interested parties," Tim Cohen said.