Cuddle Alert retired, to be bred to California Chrome

ARCADIA, Calif. – Cuddle Alert, a $10,000 claimer in 2016 who went on to win the $100,000 Spring Fever Handicap for California-breds the following year, was retired last month with a minor injury, trainer Reed Saldana said.

Cuddle Alert has been bought privately by Perry and Denise Martin, who raced California Chrome, the Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Saldana said the Martins plan to breed Cuddle Alert to California Chrome in 2019.

By the Forestry stallion Bedford Falls, the 7-year-old Cuddle Alert won 7 of 34 starts and earned $391,514.

“Her ankle started to bug her a little bit,” Saldana said. “She had done too much to try to push her. It was bittersweet, but I had to. It was the right decision for her.”

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Saldana said he had “a few offers” for Cuddle Alert and struck a deal with the Martins.

Cuddle Alert was claimed by Saldana’s wife, Melissa, in August 2016 and was initially trained by her for Reed Saldana and Leopoldo Urbina. Reed Saldana, who has 12 horses in his care, began training Cuddle Alert in March 2017 after the win in the Spring Fever the preceding month.

Cuddle Alert was third in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes for female sprinters last October. Earlier this year, she was winless in four starts, including three second-place finishes in stakes.

Cuddle Alert earned $275,194 after she was claimed.