Frank Stronach, who will finish the year as the leading North American breeder and owner by earnings, has retired his grade I-winning filly Citronnade.
According to Dan Hall, advisor to Stronach's Adena Springs, the decision came when the homebred daughter of Lemon Drop Kid sustained a minor injury in the Dec. 16 Dahlia Handicap (gr. IIT) at Hollywood Park, which marked her fifth graded stakes victory of 2007.
"She was 4, getting ready to turn 5, and she had a little minor injury after the race, but even if she hadn't, we were still kicking it around what to do, whether to run her again next year or to go on and retire her," said Hall. "But she had become a grade I winner and had had such a good year this year."
Out of the stakes-winning Lord At War mare Primarily, Citronnade will become a broodmare for Stronach's Adena Springs Kentucky near Paris. Breeding plans are still undecided.
"We were very excited to finally get something out of Primarily that had the racing ability that she's shown," said Hall, who was involved in the purchase of Primarily, who fetched a $2.2 million bid from Stronach while in foal to Storm Cat at the 1998 Keeneland November mixed sale. "Obviously, we have high hopes (for Citronnade as a broodmare). We're working on the mating right now—we really haven't finalized anything yet."
Hall said Citronnade's physical traits are similar to those of her dam, who died in 2005 from injuries sustained in a paddock accident. "They're both very attractive mares that stand over a lot of ground," he said. "They both have very good hind legs on them, and they're both very correct."
Citronnade retired from racing with nine career wins to her credit and earnings of $864,205. Breaking her maiden on her second try as a 3-year-old in 2006, the filly went to notch her first two black-type scores that year.
Citronnade launched her 2007 season with a victory in the San Gorgonio Handicap (gr. IIT), after which she took the Santa Ana Handicap (gr. IIT), Gamely Stakes (gr. IT), Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIT), and Dahlia while racing on the California circuit. She only finished off the board twice in her 14-start career.
It's not surprising that Primarily, who hails from a family thick with black-type, has also been an impressive producer, the fact that spurred her high price tag in 1998 and earned her the title of 2000 Canada broodmare of the year.
Primarily's first foal, One Over Prime, was unraced, but went on to produce the dual stakes winner Twilight Meteor (by Smart Strike). Primarily is also the dam of grade III winner Whiskey Wisdom (by Wild Again); and Canadian champion 2-year-old fillies Primaly (by Alydeed) and Poetically (by Silver Deputy).
Three of Primarily's foals have sold for more than $500,000 at auction, including the aforementioned Poetically, who was bought by B. Wayne Hughes for $2,050,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November mixed sale.
Primarily's last reported foal is a 2-year-old Red Bullet filly named Be Glorious, who finished third in her first start at Hollywood Park Dec. 7.
