Florida Champion Chance It Retired Due to Injury

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 09/30/2021 - 08:20
Link: 
Florida Champion Chance It Retired Due to Injury
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Coglianese Photos/Ryan Thompson
Chance It wins the In Reality Division of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Shooting Star Thoroughbreds announced Sept. 30 the retirement of its Florida champion Chance It , who sustained a soft tissue injury during the Sept. 25 Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park.

The 4-year-old colt by Currency Swap  had a rewarding juvenile campaign, winning two divisions of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes and was second in the third. He was honored as champion Florida-bred 2-year-old colt or gelding for 2019.

Trainer Saffie Joseph said, "Chance It showed quality in his very first breeze and had a fantastic 2-year-old year. Then he stepped right up to win a gutsy 3-year-old debut in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes. After a year off (due to )injury put a hold on his career, he came back showing his ability and class. He's a good-looking horse who has a personality to match. Because of his talent and personality, he will always hold a special place in my heart."

Chance It compiled a 4-4-1 record from 11 starts, became grade 1 placed and earned $583,330. This summer he ran second in the Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and third in the Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

"We are obviously all devastated that Chance's racing career has been cut short," said Mary Lightner, managing partner of Shooting Star Thoroughbreds. "But he owes us nothing. He took the members of Shooting Star on an incredible ride. He is coming home to me on Friday. We owe him a good life, and we will give it to him."

Sign up for

For the next phase of his career, Chance It will enter stud in 2022 at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud, which stands leading Florida sire Khozan  .

"We're excited to stand Chance It here at Journeyman next year," said Brent Fernung. "He is a beloved Florida-bred racehorse that displayed tons of talent. Had he not got injured, I'm sure he would have annexed at least one grade 1 stakes before he was finished.

 "Chance It won from six furlongs to a mile-and-a-sixteenth and showed indications that he would have won going further. It'll be a pleasure to work with Mary and her entire team," Fernung added.  

A stud fee for Chance It is pending. Journeyman also stands St Patrick's Day   and Mr. Money  .

Bred in Florida by Bett Usher, Chance It is the second foal, second winner, and first black-type winner out of the Pleasantly Perfect  mare Vagabon Diva . The mare is a half sister to multiple stakes winner Airofdistinction (Songandaprayer ). Vagabon Diva's granddam is the winning Seeking the Gold daughter Clearwater , who is a half sister to grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner Buffythecenterfold , who won the Sorrento Stakes (G2) and was runner-up in the Santa Monica Handicap (G1). Buffythecenterfold (Capote) was a graded stakes performer on dirt and turf.