Princess Noor Retired With Soft Tissue Injury

Princess Noor , a brilliant grade 1 winner this year in just her second outing, has been retired from racing following an injury suffered in the Dec. 5 Starlet Stakes (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course. The announcement was made via Twitter by Amr Zedan's Zedan Racing Stables.

"Princess Noor has been retired from racing after a soft tissue injury in the Starlet. She's a star—she had the race and probably more grade 1s to her name," Zedan Racing Stables released in a statement. "Our focus is to get her healthy and be the best mom she can be. It hurts, but we pray to God she's well and retirement is the best decision."

Princess Noor, by second-leading first-crop sire Not This Time  , was the 3-5 favorite in the Starlet for trainer Bob Baffert and had taken the lead exiting the second turn under Victor Espinoza, but the veteran rider slowed her and took her to the outside due to an injury to her left front leg. She left the track in a horse ambulance, walking into it under her own power.

VARDA RALLIES TO WIN STARLET

Bred in Kentucky by Oussama Aboughazale's International Equities Holding, Princess Noor is out of the grade 3-winning Wilko  mare Sheza Smoke Show . A $135,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase by Mark Marino, agent, from Taylor Made Sales Agency, she lit up the pavilion at this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, topping the sale at $1.35 million. Agent Gary Young signed the ticket, buying her from James and Torie Gladwell's Top Line Sales.

She won at first asking for Baffert going 5 1/2 furlongs Aug. 22 at Del Mar and followed with a 6 1/2-length score in the Sept. 6 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1). After an 8 1/4-length romp in the Sept. 26 Chandelier Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, she was the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland and finished fifth behind winner Vequist .

She won three of five starts and earned $363,500.