Grade III Winner Fiftyshadesofgold Retired
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Graded stakes winner Fiftyshadesofgold, last year's Texas champion 2-year-old filly, has been retired from racing with an injury, Valor Farm announced Sept. 30.
The daughter of My Golden Song finished fifth in the Sept. 20 Dogwood Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs and came back sound after the race. However, her foreleg swelled midweek and an ultrasound revealed a significant tear in her left front suspensory.
"She was certainly one of the best I've ever trained," Bret Calhoun said of the 3-year-old runner, who won the Two Altazano Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park in February and took the Eight Belles Stakes (gr. III) May 2 at Churchill. Those races bookended a runner-up finish in the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) in March. "She was the total package—a grand individual, was very fast and could carry it, a great mind and a big heart to go with it.
Bred by the late Clarence Scharbauer Jr., Fiftyshadesofgold is owned by Scharbauer's son, Douglas. She compiled a 4-1-1 record from nine career starts while earning $420,521 in two seasons. At age 2, she won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill and was third in the Adirondack Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga Race Course. In her start prior to the Dogwood, she was a close third in the Test Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.
Fiftyshadesofgold was born and raised at Valor Farm near Pilot Point, Texas. The filly was produced by the winning Hadif mare Hadif Cat and is a half sister to stakes winners Sword Trick and Tastefullyxcessive.
"Of course I'm disappointed that her racing career is over, but more than that, I'm so glad that she is sound and can go on to the breeding shed," Scharbauer said. "Given her talent and looks, I think she will make a great broodmare."