Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Gemologist has been retired from racing and will enter stud at Kenny Trout's WinStar Farm for the 2013 breeding season.
The 3-year-old son of Tiznow encountered a minor setback in his training last month and was sent to the Versailles, Ky.-based farm for rehabilitation. After it was determined he wouldn't make it back to any major races on the remainder of the 2012 racing calendar, the decision was made for him to retire.
"Gemologist is one of the most talented horses WinStar has ever had the privilege to be a part of," said Elliott Walden, president & CEO of WinStar, which campaigned the colt during his racing career. "He's a grand-looking individual and displayed the speed, class, and determination of Tiznow, who we believe is on his way to becoming a great sire of sires.
"It was a tough decision to retire him because he could have come back and raced at 4," Walden continued. "Our core business is stallions, and Gemologist follows in the path of Super Saver and Drosselmeyer− two other top 3-year-olds that we were fortunate to race and bring home to stud. Both of those stallions have had overwhelmingly positive starts to their respective stallion careers, and we believe breeders will love Gemologist just as much."
A $310,000 weanling purchase, Gemologist was undefeated in three starts at 2 including a victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II), which vaulted him to one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
As a 3-year-old, Gemologist captured a Gulfstream allowance race by an authoritative seven lengths over grade I winner Currency Swap , then shipped to New York and scored in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. In the latter race, he turned back grade I winner Alpha in mid-stretch to score a determined neck win in the 1 1/8-mile event. He proceeded to the Derby with a perfect five-for-five record.
Gemologist bruised a foot in the Derby as he suffered his first career defeat. "When I led Gemologist over that day, I thought I had a great chance to get my second Kentucky Derby win," said trainer Todd Pletcher, who won his first Derby in 2010 with WinStar's Super Saver. "I could not have been more confident."
Gemologist, who closed his career with a sixth in the July 29 Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, retires with five wins from seven starts and earnings of $794,855.
Bred in Kentucky by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and Louise Ireland Humphrey Revocable Trust, Gemologist is out of the Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard and is a half brother to stakes winners Sydenham (by A.P. Indy) and Clear Destiny (by Deputy Minister).
A stud fee for Gemologist will be announced at a later date.