Grade I Winner Taris Retired From Racing

Grade I winner Taris has been retired from racing, trainer Simon Callaghan said Aug. 19, after some bone bruising knocked her out of consideration for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (gr. I). That race was to be the final start of her career.

"We've taken the cautious approach," Callaghan said of the 5-year-old Flatter   mare. "We don't want to push for the Breeders' Cup. She's a very valuable filly. The best thing—rather than cram the Breeders' Cup in—was to retire her and let her enjoy her second career.

"The Breeders' Cup was going to be her last race anyway, but we found the bone bruising and it's one of those things—you've got to give them time."

Taris has been acquired by Glen Hill Farm, Hill 'n' Dale Farms, and Heider Family Stables, and Glen Hill president Craig Bernick said she'll be bred to Curlin   next year.

"She's a perfect cross for Curlin," Bernick said. "We think the world of her ability and she's got a really good pedigree. (Her pedigree has) been a little quiet in recent generations, but it goes back to a great family—Dynaformer's family and War Front  's family.

"We're really excited about her. Grade I winning fillies with that speed, with the ability to go two turns—she's right there at the top of the list of what we have right now."

Taris, who was purchased by Callaghan for $2.35 million at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall mixed sale, never finished worse than third in eight starts for the trainer and owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and John Magnier. She won the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) at Del Mar and Go For Wand Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Racetrack in 2015, then took the La Canada (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park in 2016, before her best victory and final race of her career in the Humana Distaff Stakes (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.

BALAN: Taris Dominant in Humana Distaff

"From the day she got into the barn, she was a pleasure to be around and really is class personified," Callaghan said. "She's a super good filly. She's fast, talented, and brought me and the owners some very good days."

Prior to her time with Callaghan, Taris won the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland in 2014 when trained by Todd Beattie for Commonwealth New Era Racing. A $90,000 purchase by that outfit from Claiborne's consignment to the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale, she retired with an 8-2-2 record from 13 starts in her career, to go along with $1,086,260 in earnings.