Messina’s Sanctuary City Retired, Dam Has Full Sister

Though local fan-favorite Sanctuary City 's career has come to an end, Dr. Edward Messina has much to look forward to in the 6-year-old's full sister who was born Jan. 31 at Cedar Ridge Farm in N.Y. 

The story of Messina and his homebred heart horse 'Sanctuary' was put in the spotlight last September at Saratoga Race Course when the horse won an allowance optional claiming race. The victory brought tears to Messina's eyes; it would have been his 60th year at the Spa with his loving wife Tina by his side. She passed the previous year, three days before the 2021 Saratoga meet at 82.

Now Messina watches another chapter of his life come to a close as Sanctuary's running career meets its end due to an injury sustained during his last start in the 2022 Mohawk Stakes at Belmont at the Big A in October.

"Sanctuary had to be retired after the last race," Messina said. "Cold Hard Cash came out on us and bumped him when he had his left foot planted. What he did was ruptured the ligament that stabilizes the fetlock."

Messina says that veterinarians advised him that due to the scar tissue and subsequent stiffness in Sanctuary's ankle, another accident was a potential and he was not wiling to take that chance.

"It was painful and very sad for me to do that because he was so kind to us," Messina said. "He was a giving horse. Every race, he raced his heart out. I was looking to race him as a 6-year-old because heretofore he had been perfectly sound despite the fact that in 50% of his races he had gotten bumped and a couple of them he got turned sideways and managed to go on to place second or third."

Sanctuary is currently on 60 days of hand walking and stall rest at Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue in Pawling, N.Y. where he will be rehabbed and eventually move on to a second career as a riding horse. He finished his career with a record of 5-8-4 from 25 starts and $505,170 in earnings. 

For Messina, another aspect of retiring the horse was letting go of something which has sustained him through losing his wife. Tina was ill up until her passing and never got to see Sanctuary in action. 

"It's a remarkable thing that happened in New York, he became such a fan favorite," Messina said. "I think part of it is because of the television talent that was speaking so highly of him and of me and a lot of people who know me in the game, especially here in New York. When he would step out on the track they would all be shouting his name, 'Sanctuary!' 'Sanctuary!'

"It was so touching. Sometimes I even got emotional about it. He meant so much to me during the hard period of losing my wife. He provided some stability and diversion, which took me out of my depression and grief. He'll always remain very special to me."

Oftentimes in life, something lost becomes something gained. The saying certainly rings true for Messina and his partner William Butler who welcomed a full sister to Sanctuary in a Temple City   filly out of their stakes-placed mare Considerate  a week ago.

The mare was bred to the Spendthrift Farm stallion for 2022 but ended up aborting the pregnancy early after health issues. Her 2023 filly is her seventh foal, including three winners of four foals to race. 

"I haven't seen (the filly) as of yet but I have photos of her when she was a half-hour old and when she was 12 or 15 hours old," Messina said. "They had her out in the paddock with a blanket on because here in New York we had a couple days where it was five degrees. Up where they are, it was close to zero.

"I am struggling to come up with a name for her. I thought of Twin Cities just to play on the fact that she's a full to Sanctuary, but it's not feminine enough so I'm not seriously in love with it...I'm excited. I'm planning to go up and see her this Friday. The mare and she will be sent to Kentucky, and she will go (back) to Karakontie   this year."