Multiple Graded Stakes Winner Blended Citizen Retired

Sayjay Racing, Greg Hall, and Brooke Hubbard's multiple graded stakes winner Blended Citizen has been retired from racing, the partnership announced Nov. 3.

A stud deal is pending for the 5-year-old son of Proud Citizen, and he's cataloged as a stallion prospect in the upcoming Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale with South Point Sales.

Bred by Ray Hanson, Blended Citizen is out of the multiple stakes-winning Langfuhr mare Langara Lass, making him a half brother to stakes-winning millionaire and runner-up in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) Lookin At Lee .

Blended Citizen was a classic contender, too, starting in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) after graded wins in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) over Turfway Park's all-weather surface and a score in the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. He proved to be a durable, well-traveled, and versatile racehorse with starts at 10 tracks and on all surfaces. He maintained his graded status this year with a win at 5 in the Jan. 18 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots via a disqualification.

Blended Citizen's first win came in November of his juvenile season on Del Mar's turf course where he defeated future grade 1 winner River Boyne in a maiden special weight. He was purchased for $85,000 by Hubbard eight months earlier at the Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale after a sparkling work, commanding the highest price for a juvenile by his sire in 2017. Blended Citizen retires with a 5-1-2 record out of 22 starts and earnings of $558,230.

The Gone West sire-line is responsible for several important North American sires, including Speightstown  and Quality Road . Blended Citizen is bred on the prolific Gone West/Langfuhr cross, which has produced 14% stakes winners from starters and is represented by top runners such as grade 1 winner Proud Spell. The breeding is similar to that of leading Pennsylvania sire Uptowncharlybrown .