Grade I Winner Embellish the Lace Retired

Grade I winner Embellish the Lace has been retired from racing with a leg injury, according to her owner, Alex Lieblong. The injury was discovered following her fifth-place finish in the Sept. 19 Cotillion Stakes (gr. I) at Parx Racing. 

Embellish the Lace won the Alabama Stakes (gr. I) Aug. 22 at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Tony Dutrow and finished her career with three wins from six starts and earnings of $441,540.

Lieblong said Embellish the Lace will be sold through the Fasig-Tipton November sale, which is Nov. 1 following the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

"She has a chip and there might be a tendon involved," Lieblong said. "They're talking about if we do stem cell therapy and do this and that, she might make it back to the races. But with a filly this good it doesn't make sense for her."

Lieblong, who races with his wife, JoAnn, keeps a small broodmare band at Gerald Ford's Diamond A Farm near Versailles, Ky., but said his first inclination is to sell Embellish the Lace.

"Most of the broodmares I've kept are basically named after my grandchildren, so you have those for life," he said. "Breeding really isn't my forte, but if I don't get the right price she can go join her friends at Diamond A."

Embellish the Lace (Super Saver  —Expanse) comes from a live family. Her half brother Afleet Express   (by Afleet Alex  ) won the 2010 Travers Stakes (gr. I), and she is also from the family of 2015 Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Materiality.

"I would rather be going on to the Breeders' Cup with her because she's a gorgeous filly and she did it so effortlessly," said Lieblong, "but I knew that was not her usual self at Parx. At least she's safe and not in any pain, so we'll let the market decide whether she moves on or becomes a broodmare for me."