Grade 1 winner Connect retired to Lane's End

Grade 1 winner Connect has officially been retired and will enter stud in 2018, Lane's End Farm announced on Tuesday.

Connect injured a suspensory ligament while training toward last month's Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, for which he likely would have been favored. At the time, his connections indicated the injury would likely prove career-ending. Owner Paul Pompa had previously inked a deal to stand the son of Curlin at Lane's End upon the conclusion of his racing career.

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Connect won six of his eight career starts for earnings of $1.37 million. He earned his first graded stakes victory in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, defeating Gun Runner by a half-length with a rail-rallying trip. He then edged classic-placed Divining Rod by a head in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.

Connect launched this season with a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes, the local prep for the Met Mile, at Belmont.

“I’ve said it before, but of all the very good horses I’ve been fortunate to own Connect is in another league,” Pompa said. “Of course we’re all very disappointed that he won’t be able to run again, but I’m also looking forward to the next stage of his career. Lane’s End has an exceptional record and I’m confident that the outstanding syndicate that’s been put together will give him every chance for success.”

Out of an unraced Holy Bull mare, Connect is a half-brother to stakes winner Tani Maru, and is from the family of Grade 1 winner Backseat Rhythm.