"She is an amazing filly, and I think she deserves the title," said Lobo, with wife Maria Carolina at his side. "She gave me a lot of thrills. She has such a big heart and made me well known. We will miss her a lot."Lobo, 33, moved here from Brazil nearly two years ago. His stable has grown to 15 horses, 10 from Brazil.
Farda Amiga, a leading contender for 3-year-old filly championship honors, has been retired, trainer Paulo Lobo announced from his barn at Hollywood Park Thursday."Her owners made the decision," said Lobo. "She has one physical problem, and they do not want to put a horse that is only 90 percent on the track. She will go to Kentucky. No decision has been reached on a stallion."Farda Amiga, which means Friendly Silks in Portuguese, is co-owned by a trio of Brazilian breeders: Julio Camargo, Marcos Simon and Jose DeCamargo. Farda Amiga moved to the top of her division with victories in the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes (both gr. I) and a runner-up finish to 4-year-old Azeri, leading Horse of the Year candidate, in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I).Her 20-1 come-from-behind surprise over a star-studded field in the Oaks with Chris McCarron riding set off a wild celebration led by Lobo in the Churchill Downs winner's circle, providing one of the year's best racing moments.She followed that with another late-rallying win in the Alabama at Saratoga 3 1/2 months later."Fly, Farda Amiga, fly," her supporters cried. Purchased at the Keeneland September yearling sale for $45,000 by DeCamargo's Santa Escolastica, the daughter of Broad Brush won five of eight starts and earned $1,282,302.
