Ela Athena retired with injury

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ela Athena, who finished third in the Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes on Sept. 8 at Belmont, sustained a knee injury in that race and has been retired, according to a report in T he Racing Post.

A 5-year-old mare owned by Gary Tanaka, Ela Athena will be sent to Kentucky, where, trainer Michael Jarvis said, she will be bred to a top stallion.

Ela Athena, bred in England by Biddestone Stud, is by Ezzoud and is the only stakes winner for her dam, the Formidable mare Crodelle.

The well-traveled Ela Athena has run in Hong Kong, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and the United States, winning three of 17 starts and earning more than $850,000. Her two stakes victories, in the Group 3 Lancashire Oaks in 2000 and the Golden Daffodil Stakes in 1999, both came in England. She also finished second in four Grade 1 or Group 1 races: the 2000 Man o' War Stakes, Nassau Stakes in England, Hong Kong Vase in Hong Kong, and Gran Prix di Milano in Italy.

She also finished third in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational and fourth in the Grade 1 Japan Cup last year.- Glenye Cain