Arravale, 2006 Canadian champion, is retired

Arravale, Canada's Horse of the Year and champion turf female of 2006, has been retired from racing to become a broodmare, said owner Bob Costigan. A 5-year-old daughter of Arch out of Kalosca, by Kaldoun, Arravale most recently finished fourth in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes on May 31 at Woodbine.

She will be sent to Mill Ridge Farm in Kentucky before heading to Ireland in the fall to be boarded. In the spring of 2009 she will be bred to the Chevely Park Stud stallion Pivotal, a Group 1 winner by Polar Falcon who has sired three classic winners in 2008.

"We are very fortunate to own such a wonderful racehorse who has given us so many priceless moments," said Costigan, who bought Arravale as a yearling at the Keeneland September sale for $190,000.

Trained by Mac Benson, Arravale became only the sixth female to be named Canada's Horse of the Year since the inception of the Sovereign Awards in 1975. The following year, Sealy Hill became the seventh.

Arravale won the Grade 3 Natalma Stakes at 2 in 2005, and at 3 won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, defeating an international field that included five Grade 1-winning fillies and mares. She also ran second in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine and third in the Grade 1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park in 2006.

A splint injury at the outset of 2007 delayed Arravale's 4-year-old campaign. She was winless in five starts that year, including a troubled seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Monmouth Park.

Arravale retires with a record of 5 wins in 15 starts and earnings of $1,129,697.