10/04/2012 6:09PM

Gemologist, Wood Memorial winner, retired to stand at WinStar

Michael Amoruso

Gemologist was a $310,000 Keeneland November sale weanling

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Wood Memorial winner Gemologist, who returned to WinStar Farm for evaluation about three weeks after a last-place finish in the Haskell Invitational, has been retired from racing, the farm announced late Thursday afternoon. WinStar will stand the 3-year-old colt, a son of their stallion Tiznow, in 2013. The Versailles, Ky., farm will announce his stud fee later.

Gemologist exited the July 29 Haskell with a respiratory infection that kept him out of the Travers, and he last worked out on Sept. 2, going five furlongs in 59.75 seconds at Saratoga.

"It was a tough decision to retire him, because he could have come back and raced at 4," said WinStar's chief executive, Elliott Walden. "Our core business is stallions, and Gemologist follows in the path of Super Saver and Drosselmeyer - two other top 3-year-olds that we were fortunate enough to race and bring home to stud."

Bred by G. Watts Humphrey and his mother, Louise Ireland Humphrey, Gemologist was a $310,000 Keeneland November sale weanling. He won his first five starts, including the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last year at 2 and this year's Wood, but he came out of his16th-place Kentucky Derby finish with a bruised foot.

Gemologist retires with $794,855 in earnings from 5 wins in 7 starts. He is out of the unraced Mr. Prospector mare Crystal Shard, who also produced stakes-winner Clear Destiny and stakes-placed Perfect Cut.

JoyJackson21

More than 1 year ago

I'm sorry to hear Gemologist is going to be retired. This decision was rather swift, but after the manner in which he was sent home to be evaluated, it's not exactly a surprise. Geomologist showed a lot of promise. I am grateful he is being retired relatively healthy, that he did not have a life-threatening injury or illnes. Gemologist will be able to enjoy his retirement. Good luck to you, Gem! We're going to miss you. Have a happy and fun retirement.

Don Passidomo

More than 1 year ago

Was a champ who won every race he was not sick or injured in grade 1-2 and best looking 3 yr old colt should be a top level sire, now my remaining 3yr old running is Fed Biz may he win one more big one for "Gem" his racing record stands as one of the best 2-3yrs OM

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Gem won't bring $1k fee at stud. he's a pig

chad mc rory

More than 1 year ago

Nope. He's a Colt. Pletcher is the pig.

chad mc rory

More than 1 year ago

My apologies to all Pigs.

Alex	More than 1 year ago

no business being retired, elliot walden should be embarrassed.

Vinod Jhangimal

More than 1 year ago

We´ll never know what caused Gemologist to completely lose his way. With him being retired they can start inventing all types of excuses as to what caused them to make this decision. Mr. Walden said it best "Our core business is stallions." We are just a hop, skip and jump away from breeding horses to produce horses for breeding purposes exclusively. It appears that operations such as Baffert, Pletcher and such do not have time to nurture horses back into condition once they have gone away. Their mills have so many new products coming in that to "waste" time in actually conditioning a horse back to health is not in their list of priorities, not to mention that it isn't economically feasible for them. Public media managers, wanna-be vets, the industry is littered with these people who call themselves trainers. Don't get me wrong, there must have been a time in their careers when they actually trained and were good at it. Something, someone, somewhere must have completely lost their way to get to this stage. I am glad that Gemologist didn't suffer any life ending injuries and will be allowed to enjoy his retirement in a healthy and safe manner.