Buddha, getting a bath at Churchill Downs during Derby week.
Buddha, a grade I winner for owners Gary and Mary West who won all three starts this year for trainer James Bond, has been retired because of a muscle problem in his back. The 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song did not start since winning the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) in April. Buddha's beaten foes in that $750,000 race included Medaglia d'Oro, Sunday Break, and Saarland.Buddha, who was unplaced in his only start at two, won twice at Gulfstream this year. He captured a seven-furlong maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths, then scored by 9 1/2 lengths against allowance foes at 1 1/16 miles.Following the Wood Memorial, all systems were on go to run Buddha in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I). His chance for a Derby win ended because of a separation of the hoof wall from the laminae.Bred by Kip and Suzanne Knelman's Farfellow Farms and produced from the Storm Cat mare Cahooters, Buddha retires with $489,600 in earnings. His third dam is a half-sister to the great champion Damascus. No decision has been reached as to where Buddha will enter stud.
