McKinzie Retired to Gainesway Farm

Four-time grade 1 winner McKinzie  has been retired from racing, it was announced Oct. 7. The son of Street Sense  will stand the 2021 season at Gainesway Farm near Lexington.

"McKinzie was absolutely brilliant," said Brian Graves, the general manager of Gainesway, "He was an undefeated grade 1 winner at 2, as well as a multiple grade 1 winner and top-rated horse at 3 and 4 years of age. His speed, precocity, and good looks make him an absolute standout."

McKinzie was named after the late Brad McKinzie, a 30-year executive at Los Alamitos and a close friend of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The equine McKinzie's career highlights include victories in the 2019 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course at 4, the 2018 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing, and Sham Stakes (G3) back at Santa Anita at 3, and the 2017 Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course at 2, one of two starts during his undefeated juvenile campaign.

"From day one, McKinzie has just been exceptional," Baffert said. "He is a gorgeous physical with brilliant speed and stamina. I've only had one other horse in my career that has been able to accomplish what he's done by winning a grade 1 at 2, 3, and 4. It takes an extraordinary horse to achieve that."

McKinzie ran 11 triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures and amassed $3,473,360 in earnings while compiling eight wins and six seconds from 18 starts.

His Whitney win came over dual grade 1 winner Yoshida  and eventual Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and Eclipse champion Vino Rosso . In that race, he ran a 111 Beyer and a 1/4 Ragozin figure.

"He was such a good horse," Baffert said. "When he was on, he was really on. He was a top, top horse. He meant a lot to me because he was named after a good friend. Winning the Whitney, that was something else."

In addition to his wins, McKinzie was second in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Awesome Again Stakes (G1), Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1), and San Pasqual Stakes (G2).

"His best race was probably the Met Mile, where he just got in all kinds of trouble," Baffert said. "That was probably his most impressive race. He was flying late. That Met Mile was incredible. If he would have had just a little clear room there, man … 

"We really enjoyed him. The ownership team was a lot of fun, and there's nothing like having a really good horse and going on the road." 

The 5-year-old Baffert trainee closed his career with a fourth in the Sept. 4 Alysheba Stakes Presented by Sentient Jet (G2) at Churchill Downs. 

Bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Farm out of the grade 2-winning, grade 1-placed Petionville mare Runway Model, McKinzie was a $170,000 purchase by his owners' Three Amigos from the Lane's End consignment at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. His dam was third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 2, second in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at 3, and sold to Summer Wind for $2.7 million in foal to Storm Cat at the 2006 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency.

"McKinzie is the best son of Street Sense, his Ragozin sheet numbers are as impressive as I have seen, and to maintain that speed and soundness over multiple seasons takes an absolute superstar," said Sean Tugel, Gainesway's director of stallion sales and recruitment. "He has everything you want in a stallion prospect."

A fee will be announced at a later date.