Chris's Thunder Retired After Leggio Win; To Be Bred to Charismatic

Owner Michael Schwartz announced the retirement of Chris's Thunder Saturday, shortly after the 5-year-old mare won the $60,000 Dr. A.B. Leggio Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds. Chris's Thunder, who won five of her last six starts and each of her last five turf races, will be bred to Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Charismatic in January.

"This was her last hoo-rah," said Schwartz. "We saved the best for last."

Chris's Thunder (Rubiano--Charnell's Dream, by Wavering Monarch) won nine of thirty career races and earned just over $300,000. In winning the A.P. Indy Stakes in October, she broke the Keeneland turf course record for 5 1/2 furlongs, stopping the timer in 1:01.72. She earned her first stakes win in July, winning the Miller Lite Stakes at Lone Star Park.