EARLY DERBY FAVORITE ESKENDEREYA RETIRED TO STUD

Less than a month ago, Eskendereya was on top of the horse racing world as the presumptive favorite in the Kentucky Derby.  Then came the shocking news that he would not be running in the race due to a leg injury, but owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Todd Pletcher said that the horse’s future in the sport would be determined at a later date.  This past weekend, Zayat announced that Eskendereya would be retired to stud and that he’d sold an interest in his equine investment to Jess Jackson, best known as the principle owner of super filly Rachel Alexandra and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

Though Eskendereya’s prospects as a breeding mare may not be as lucrative as they would have been had he won the Derby, he should still command a healthy stud fee.  When Eskendereya’s withdrawal from the race was announced, trainer Pletcher (who would go on to win the Derby with Super Saver) said that he was a unique specimen:

"Without a doubt, this is the best horse we've ever brought to this stage. His last two races were as good as any 3-year-old has ever run.”

Pletcher elaborated on Eskendereya’s talent after the retirement announcement:

"I think he's as good as horses get. His Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial were as good as performances as we have had and as good as we've seen from a 3-year-old. I'd rank him up there as among the best we've had."

Owner Zayat sounded a similar theme in discussing Eskendereya’s retirement from racing:

"This is a-once-in-a-lifetime horse, it's going to take me a while to get over it. I think he could have won the Triple Crown, not just the Kentucky Derby."

According to Zayat, Eskendereya made the rounds of a ‘who’s who’ of veterinary medicine in the past week to get a complete diagnosis.  Ultimately, it was decided that the horse would need at least a year off from racing to fully recover and there were serious questions if he’d ever regain his competitive form following that layoff.  After discussing the various alternatives with Pletcher and others close to the situation, Zayat decided that retirement was the best course of action.

"Todd and I discussed every other possibility before concluding that retirement was the only option and the right decision to protect Eskendereya's health.”

Zayat also indicated that the decision to sell an interest to Jess Jackson was due, in large part, to the fact that his stable is currently in bankruptcy re-organization and was a way to create some immediate value.  Zayat purchased Eskendereya for $250,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2008.  He retires with a record of 4-1-0 from six starts and earnings of $725,700.