Kelly's Landing, whose career was highlighted by a victory in the 2007 Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), ran his last race Jan. 17 and is now enjoying some rest and relaxation.
The 8-year-old son of Patton has been returned to Summerplace Farm near Lexington, where he was foaled and raised. Kelly’s Landing posted a record of 10-3-2 from 27 starts and earned $1,853,831 while carrying the Summerplace silks.
“He’s in wonderful health—he retired sound,” said John Lally, who owns Summerplace with his wife, Louise. “We came to the conclusion that if he couldn’t race at the top levels anymore, we didn’t want to see something happen to him, because he’s given us a lot of thrills.”
In addition to winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen and being named a champion older horse in that country in 2007, Kelly’s Landing set a six-furlong track record at Churchill Downs in 2005 with a time of 1:07.59. He was also a grade III winner at Keeneland, Churchill, and Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally, Kelly’s Landing finished seventh in the Jan. 17 Mr. Prospector Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream, which marked his last start. The gelding scored his most recent victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland last October.
“We thought it was his time to have a second career,” said Lally. “(Kenneally) is going to try and make a pony horse out of him, so that will be fun to see him (in that role) on the racetrack.”
Lally said the gelding would be ridden under Western tack at the farm this summer, after which Kenneally would take him to Keeneland or Churchill.
“We’ll see if he adapts as the stable pony horse,” said Lally.