Bending Strings retired

John D. Gunther's Glennwood Farm has announced the retirement of multiple Grade 2 winner Bending Strings. Bred and raced by Gunther, five-year-old Bending Strings (American Chance - Straight South, by Hail the Pirates) won the Grade 2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup at Belmont in 2004. Later that season, Bending Strings reeled off consecutive victories in the Grade 3 Safely Kept Breeders' Cup at Pimlico and the First Flight Handicap at Aqueduct. She earned a career-high 106 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Grade 2 Chilukki Stakes at Churchill Downs in 2005.

was trained by Jerry Hollendorfer for the first six starts of her career before moving to Kiaran McLaughlin's barn in the spring of 2004. Bending Strings made the last eight starts of her career for trainer Wallace Dollase.

Bending Strings failed to win in 2006, but she finished third in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff Handicap at Churchill Downs on May 6. She ran fifth in her final career start in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park last Saturday.

Bending Strings was pronounced in foal to leading sire Distorted Humor prior to her final two starts. She retires with a lifetime record of 29-6-8-2 and earnings of $870,612.