Dixie Union, winning the Malibu Stakes on Santa Anita's opening-day card.
Dixie Union, winner of Tuesday's Malibu Stakes (gr. I), has been retired from racing due to a bowed tendon, trainer Richard Mandella said Thursday. Dixie Union won five graded stakes in a 12-race career and earned $1,233,190.Though the injury is reported to be slight, Mandella said, "We just can't go on with him."Besides the victory over high-class sprinter Caller One in the seven-furlong Malibu, Dixie Union won the 1 1/8-mile Haskell Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Monmouth Park in August, defeating Captain Steve. As a juvenile, he won the Norfolk (gr. II), Best Pal, (gr. III) and Hollywood Juvenile Championship (gr. III) Stakes.The 3-year-old was bred in Kentucky by Herman Sarkowsky, who owned the colt along with Diamond A Racing Corp. Dixie Union (Dixieland Band--She's Tops, by Capote) will begin his stud career next year at a farm that has yet to be determined."That is still to be discussed," said Mandella. "We have to look at where to stand him at stud. We're still working out the details."Dixie Union won seven races in his career and finished second on three occasions, all stakes races.
