Grade I Winner Moreno Retired
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Southern Equine Stable's homebred grade I winner Moreno has been retired, trainer Eric Guillot said Aug. 9, a day after he finished eighth in the Whitney Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
The 5-year-old Ghostzapper gelding had moments of brilliance in his 29-race career, highlighted by his gate-to-wire victory in the Whitney last year. Moreno most recently won the Charles Town Classic Stakes (gr. II) and also took the Dwyer Stakes (gr. II) in 2013, just one race after breaking his maiden on his 10th try.
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After finishing third or better in 12 of 18 graded tries through May of 2015, however, he came in eighth in his last two starts. He ended his career with a 4-9-4 record from 29 starts, with earnings just less than $3 million. Bred in Kentucky, Moreno is out of the A.P. Indy mare Danceinthesunlight.
"When it's that time, it's that time," Guillot said. "When they can't compete at that level—he's been too good to us to gamble and get him hurt. He's too good of a horse to not do right by him. He's too good of a horse to run him into the ground."
Guillot said Moreno had been battling three or four "wear-and-tear" injuries this year, but the trainer was able to keep him in racing shape.
"It's just one of those deals," Guillot said. "I'm good, but I'm not God. It was time."