Laoban Retired to Stand at Sequel Stallions

Laoban  , who broke his maiden when he captured the July 30 Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) by 1 1/4 lengths, has been retired due to a soft tissue injury and will enter stud at Sequel Stallions in New York, co-owner Mike Moreno said Dec. 14. He will stand for an introductory fee of $7,500 stands and nurses.

Moreno said the injury was discovered after Laoban's most recent workout, a five furlong drill in 1:00.41 at Gulfstream Park Dec. 4. Off since finishing 12th in the Aug. 27 Travers Stakes (gr. I), the son of Uncle Mo   was under consideration for a possible start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup (gr. I) at Gulfstream Jan. 28. Owned by Moreno's Southern Equine Stable and McCormick Racing, Laoban retires with one win from nine starts and $526,250 in earnings. He is out of the winning Speightstown mare Chattertown.

"We've elected to retire him instead of bringing him back for his 4-year-old year," Moreno said. "We had a choice whether to give him more time off and bring him back for the second half of his 4-year-old year, but we've elected not to miss breeding season. He's so valuable. 

"He's got grade I looks and he had grade I ability. It's a shame he didn't get a chance to win a grade I, because he would have in 2017. But he's going to be popular and he'll have a chance to work his way through the breeding ranks."

Laoban will be syndicated by a joint venture between Southern Equine Stables, Sequel Thoroughbreds, McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Thoroughbreds, with limited breeding rights available.

"We are so excited to be able to offer our clients this very exciting prospect. He looks just like Uncle Mo. He's gorgeous," said Sequel's Becky Thomas. "We are particularly excited to partner with such a great group of horsemen and breeders. The mares that will be presented to him will be second-to-none as we intend for him to follow in the footsteps of current leading freshman sire Mission Impazible. We will be offering a number of limited breeding rights to our breeders in New York  as well as out-of-state clients.

"The expansion of the New York breeding program has allowed many more opportunities as New York-breds have increased substantially in value on the racing front as well as in the sales ring. Laoban offers a unique breed back option for our Kentucky clients as well as a perfect reason for our New York breeders to stay home."

"Outstanding physical, son of a freaky sire, speed to burn and a great ownership group," said Matt Lyons, vice president and general manager of Woodford Thoroughbreds. "A no-brainer!"

Trained by Eric Guillot, Laoban took time growing into his large frame. He dropped his first seven starts and hinted at promise along the way. The dark bay colt finished third in the Sham Stakes (gr. III), second in the grade III Gotham, and fourth in the grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes—enough to earn himself a try in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), where he ran sixth.

He put things together in the Jim Dandy, when he led at every point of call to best a field that included Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (gr. I) winner Creator. Shortly after his disappointing Travers run, Laoban had surgery to remove a displaced chip in his ankle.

"I would venture to say it will be a long time before someone else wins the Jim Dandy with a maiden," Moreno said. "We're excited. We're going to support him (at stud) and there are already a lot of folks on board in the syndicate to support him."

Owned by Moreno's Southern Equine Stable and McCormick Racing, Laoban retires with one win from nine starts and $526,250 in earnings. He is out of the winning Speightstown   mare Chattertown.