Speedy Grade III Winner Chitu Retired

Chitu, a speedy colt who pushed the early pace in the 2014 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), has been retired, according to trainer Bob Baffert.

Baffert said the decision was made to retire the 4-year-old son of Henny Hughes because he would be unable to get back to the same level at which he competed before developing an ankle problem following a third-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner Shared Belief, in the Malibu Stakes (gr. I) last Dec. 26.

While there has been some interest, Baffert said there has been no commitment on where the colt will stand at stud.

"We had an issue with an ankle that didn't require surgery, but we decided to retire him because he wouldn't be able to make it back to his old form," Baffert said. "He's a beautiful horse. He was extremely fast and won some good races. He has a beautiful frame and is very well-balanced. We're trying to find a home for him to stand."

Bred in Kentucky by Tom Evans, Macon Wilmil Equines, and Marjac Farms, Chitu won four of seven starts for owner Tanma Corporation. He was a $300,000 purchase from the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. sale of selected 2-year-olds in training.

Chitu won the first two starts of his career, getting six furlongs in 1:09.94 and 1:08.86 at Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park, respectively. After finishing second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II), the colt was shipped to Sunland Park where he won the Sunland Derby (gr. III).

Following the Kentucky Derby, in which he vied with Uncle Sigh early before finishing ninth, eight lengths behind winner California Chrome, Chitu was given a break and returned in October to win the Damascus Stakes at Santa Anita.