Indian Blessing retired

ARCADIA, Calif. - Indian Blessing, a two-time champion, was retired on Thursday morning, trainer Bob Baffert said.

Indian Blessing worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds on Thursday at Santa Anita, but Baffert said he had no race in mind for her at the time. Instead, he wanted to give exercise rider Simon Harris, who worked Indian Blessing when she was stabled in New York, one last chance to, as Baffert said, "take her for a spin." Harris is in town for the Breeders' Cup.

"There's nowhere else to run her," said Baffert, who kept Indian Blessing out of this year's Breeders' Cup because he believes she is not as effective on a synthetic surface. Baffert said no decision had been made as to whom Indian Blessing would be bred next spring.

"It's hard to let go. She's so great," Baffert said.

Indian Blessing, 4, owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt, won 10 of 16 starts and $2,995,420 over three seasons. She was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2007, when she won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park, and was the champion female sprinter of 2008.