Cindago retired to Legacy Ranch

ARCADIA, Calif. - Cindago, a promising but lightly raced colt who battled soundness problems, has been retired and will stand at stud at Legacy Ranch in Clements, Calif., in 2007, trainer John Sadler said Friday.

Speaking on behalf of owner Lee and Susan Searing's CRK Stables, Sadler said Cindago will stand for a private fee in 2007.

Cindago, 3, won 2 of 3 starts and $98,180. In his lone start this year, he won the one-mile El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar in September, beating the stakes winners Brother Derek, Bob and John, and Da Stoops.

While training for a start in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby at Hoosier Park in early October, Cindago sustained a tendon injury. At the time, Sadler said that Cindago would be out for six months, but those plans were changed recently.

"We sent him to the farm with the possibility of bringing him back, but we decided to stand him next year," Sadler said.

By Indian Charlie, Cindago suffered an injury last winter after winning a maiden race at Santa Anita. The injury kept him out of training for the first half of 2006.

Legacy Ranch also stands Our New Recruit, who was campaigned by CRK Stables. Our New Recruit is best known for winning the $2 million Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai in 2005.

Cindago is one of at least eight stallions who will stand their first season at stud in California in 2007. The group includes the stakes winners Best Minister, Lucky Pulpit, Spensive, and Uncle Denny.

Sunshine Classic next for 'Mojave'

McCann's Mojave, the winner of the 2005 California Cup Classic, will be pointed for the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27 after winning the $60,400 Union Square Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Tuesday, according to owner-breeder Mike Willman.

The Union Square, run over 1 1/16 miles, was McCann's Mojave's second consecutive win, a streak preceded by six consecutive losses from March to November.

The Union Square was also McCann's Mojave's second win for Steve Specht, who recently took over training the 6-year-old horse. McCann's Mojave was previously trained at Santa Anita by Paddy Gallagher.

"I wanted to get him in a new environment - totally - physically and everything," said Willman of the reason for moving McCann's Mojave to northern California

While the Union Square drew a moderate field, Willman was encouraged by McCann's Mojave's two-length win.

"He finished very well," he said. "It helped getting a little softer company."

A winner of 9 of 23 starts and $624,955, McCann's Mojave is proven over the Sunshine Millions distance of 1 1/8 miles. He won the California Cup Classic at that distance.

The Sunshine Millions Classic is restricted to California-breds and Florida-breds. McCann's Mojave will not face two of the toughest California-bred older horses - Brother Derek and Lava Man.

Brother Derek, the winner of the 2006 Santa Anita Derby, is being pointed to the $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes on Jan. 13.

Lava Man, who swept the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic and is a near certainty to be named California-bred horse of the year for 2006, will make his next start in the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf at Santa Anita, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

The absence of those two helped Willman decide that the Sunshine Millions Classic is the right spot for McCann's Mojave.

"I can't imagine him being any better than he is right now," he said. "This is a good time to roll the dice."