Divine Miss Grey Retired After Sustaining Fracture
Image:
Description:
Photo: Coglianese Photos
Divine Miss Grey wins the 2019 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct
Corms Racing Stable and R. A. Hill Stable's grade 2 winner Divine Miss Grey will be retired from racing after being pulled up in the stretch run of the Aug. 3 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes and vanned off, trainer Danny Gargan said.
Gargan said the 5-year-old mare fractured a sesamoid in her left foreleg.
"She fractured one sesamoid but didn't tear any ligaments. She may need to have surgery on Monday, but she may not," Gargan explained.
A barn favorite, Divine Miss Grey enjoyed her best season in 2018 posting a record of 5-3-1 from 10 starts, including stakes scores in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct Racetrack, the Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park, and the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx Racing.
In addition she hit the board in four graded stakes, finishing second in the Distaff Handicap (G3) at the Big A, third in the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth, second in the Beldame (G1) at Belmont Park, and second in the Falls City Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs. The chestnut daughter of Divine Park made the grade in the Chilukki Stakes (G2) at Churchill in November.
Defending her title in the Heavenly Prize Invitational to open her 5-year-old campaign, Divine Miss Grey banked $934,372 in purse earnings through four seasons of racing with a record of 12-6-1 from 26 starts.
Gargan, who previously noted plans to retire Divine Miss Grey following this season regardless, said he will miss having the hard-knocking mare in the barn.
"She's going to be a broodmare. She's run a lot of races and she's a warrior. She's a tough filly and she always tries," Gargan said. "She's a special horse and I love her very much. She's got a big fan club."