King's Bishop Winner Visionaire Retired

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Visionaire at Churchill Downs prior to the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
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Grade I winner Visionaire has been retired from racing after being unable to come back following an injury he likely suffered in his victory in the NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old son of Grand Slam—Scarlet Tango (by French Deputy) won five of 12 starts and earned $465,882 while trained by Michael Matz for Vision Racing and Team Valor. In addition to the King’s Bishop, Visionaire won the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and finished third in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) and Northern Dancer Stakes (gr. III). The colt was bred in Kentucky by Reiley McDonald.

“Visionaire most likely suffered a knee chip in the King’s Bishop,” Matz said in a release from Team Valor. “His next two races were unlike him. Surgery was performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage last fall, but he has not trained to our satisfaction, so the owners have decided to retire him, rather than blemish his racing record.” 

The release said no plans have been formulated for Visionaire’s stud career, and that he is being sent to the Paragon Farm of Vision Racing partners Brandon and Diannah Perry near Lexington.

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