Live Oak Stud homebred Za Approval has been retired sound after a long and successful racing career that saw the 8-year-old gelding amass $1,394,666 in six years of racing.
"Za Approval is yet another extraordinary member of a family that has been especially gratifying to Live Oak Stud," owner and breeder Charlotte Weber said.
Za Approval has returned home to Live Oak Stud in Ocala, Fla., where the popular gelding will join his older half brother, Revved Up, in retirement. They are two of three Live Oak homebred millionaires to hail from the With Approval mare Win Approval. The other millionaire is Miesque's Approval, Win Approval's most successful offspring, who captured the 2006 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) at Churchill Downs for Live Oak en route to lifetime earnings of $2,648,879. Miesque's Approval now stands at stud in South Africa.
Another half brother, World Approval, is currently one of the top North American turf horses in training. The 4-year-old World Approval captured last month's United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park, and he's trying to become the fourth millionaire for Win Approval. World Approval has earned $863,450 to date.
Za Approval enjoyed his best form as a 5-year-old in 2013, which included a strong runner-up performance to Horse of the Year Wise Dan in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park.
In 34 starts, Za Approval racked up nine wins, nine seconds, and four thirds. Prior to his runner-up effort in the Breeders' Cup, he scored back-to-back victories in the Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Gulfstream Park and Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth, along with a win in the Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park.
By Ghostzapper , Za Approval and his brothers represent the third generation of Live Oak homebreds from his decorated family. The second dam, Negotiator, was bred by Live Oak in 1974.