Classic Winner T J's Lucky Moon Retired

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T J's Lucky Moon, who wowed Canadian fans by capturing the 2002 Queen's Plate Stakes at 82-1, has been retired from racing and will take up residence at owner Gino Molinaro's farm near Acton, Ontario. The 5-year-old gelded son of Tejabo out of the Key to the Moon mare Moonland Princess experienced a small tear in his suspensory ligament. Although he could have continued racing, Molinaro felt he had done enough.

T J's Lucky Moon's winning price of $166 in the Queen's Plate was the second-highest in the history of the historic race. He was trained at the time by Vito Armata. whose nephew, Ross Armata Jr., trained him this year.

The latter has mixed feelings about the decision to retire T J's Lucky Moon. "I honestly believe he would have gotten better with age," he said of the Ontario-bred who won two of 10 starts and earned $671,505. "He always had raw talent, and he just had some growing up to do in terms of his racing mindset. He was always taught to just go go go. I think with time, he would have had a good career. But I truly understand and respect the decision to retire him."

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