Despite BC Classic berth, Girvin done for the season

Girvin, who earned a berth into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic with his win in the Haskell Invitational in July, has wrapped up his season, trainer Joe Sharp said Monday. Girvin last raced on Sept. 24, finishing fifth in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Sharp said Girvin is getting some downtime in Ocala, Fla. Following the break, the horse will resume training at Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Sharp said Girvin came out of the Oklahoma Derby in good physical order, and that he and owner Brad Grady opted to turn the horse out for 60 days at Grady’s farm, Grand Oaks. The Oklahoma Derby came on the heels of an 11th-place finish in the Travers at Saratoga.

“He made every dance,” Sharp said of a season that included a start in the Kentucky Derby. “Basically, his lack of involvement early in the Oklahoma Derby and performance in the Travers – which I didn’t have an explanation for – was just Girvin telling us he needs a little time. And he’s earned some time.”

Girvin started his 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 2 wins at Fair Grounds, in the Risen Star in February and the Louisiana Derby in March. He proceeded to run 13th in the Kentucky Derby, then came back and was second by a nose in the Ohio Derby before notching the first Grade 1 win of his career in the $1 million Haskell. It was also the first Grade 1 victory for Grady and Sharp.

“The horse is a horse of a lifetime, and I think his best years are to come,” Sharp said. “We’re very grateful for him. This year was just so fun with [our families]. It was a great experience.”

A son of Tale of Ekati, Girvin earned $1.5 million in eight starts this year. He was the richest horse to ever enter the Oklahoma Derby, according to Remington spokesman Dale Day. Girvin finished six lengths behind winner Untrapped.

By wrapping up his season in September, Girvin will be ready to run next year sooner than the horses who run in the Breeders’ Cup, Sharp said.