Five-year-old Affluent, who earned $1,497,651, has been retired from racing, according to Daily Racing Form. A homebred for Janis Whitham who was trained by Ron McAnally, Affluent was a grade I winner on dirt and turf. She won the La Brea (gr. I) and Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) Stakes, plus the Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) and John C. Mabee/Ramona Handicap (gr. IT). She also captured the Hollywood Oaks (gr. II) and El Encino Stakes (gr. II).Unlike Summer Colony, Affluent wasn't able to beat Azeri, but she did manage to place against her on numerous occasions in graded stakes. Careerwise, Affluent won a total of eight of 23 starts. Breeding plans are incomplete.
Edward P. Evans' homebred millionaire Summer Colony, the first and one of two horses to beat Azeri, has arrived at her owner's Spring Hill Farm near Casanova, Va., following her retirement. She is booked to Gone West."It's the end of her 5-year-old season, and we didn't want to run her in the Breeders' Cup (Distaff, gr. I) or in smaller stakes," trainer Mark Hennig said. "This way, she'll have plenty of time to prepare to be a broodmare."Summer Colony, who broke her maiden by 32 3/4 lengths at Saratoga, defeated Azeri in the 2002 La Canada Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita. She captured five other stakes during her career, including this year's Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth Park and last year's Personal Ensign Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga. By Summer Squall out of the Pleasant Colony mare Probable Colony, Summer Colony retires with earnings of $1,448,930.
