Graded stakes winner Sharp Samurai retired

Sharp Samurai, a five-time stakes winner who was third behind Knicks Go in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland in November, has been retired from racing. Trainer Mark Glatt said over the weekend that Sharp Samurai will be sent to an equine retirement home.

Owned by Rancho Temescal, Red Baron’s Barn, and Glatt, Sharp Samurai won 8 of 23 starts and earned $1,111,270. The BC Dirt Mile was his final start. Sharp Samurai was scratched from the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

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“He’ll be shipping out of here shortly,” Glatt said of Sharp Samurai, a 7-year-old gelding by First Samurai.

“He’s a horse that has a little age on him. He had some problems throughout his career.”

Sharp Samurai was second or third in all five of his starts in 2020, including a runner-up finish to Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August. He was later second to Mo Forza in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile.

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In the BC Dirt Mile, Sharp Samurai raced in traffic on the turn and finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Knicks Go. He was beaten a nose for second by Jesus’ Team. Knicks Go and Jesus’ Team were first and second in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.

In 2017, Sharp Samurai won four turf stakes, including the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby.