Hessonite retired from racing, cataloged to Fasig-Tipton sale

Hessonite, a two-time New York-bred champion and winner of nine stakes in a 22-race career, has been retired from racing, trainer David Donk said Wednesday.

Donk said while Hessonite is sound, she hasn’t completely recovered from her summer campaign that included two races 17 days apart in early-to-mid July when the weather was hot. Donk also noted that Hessonite is cataloged for the Night of Stars Sale at Fasig-Tipton on Nov. 4, a sale from which she was withdrawn last year to race at 5.

Hessonite, a daughter Freud out of the Manila mare Lakab, won 11 of 22 starts and earned $879,644 for owners William Punk Jr. and Philip DiLeo. Her nine stakes included the Grade 3 Beaugay earlier this year and the On the Bus Stakes on July 19 in her final career start. That race came 17 days after she finished fourth in the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx Racing.

“I knocked her out with those two races,” Donk said. “Any other horse I’d turn her out for a couple of months and bring her back. But I don’t have that luxury with her being in the sale. She wasn’t quite the same, so it was my advice to the owners not to press on.”

Hessonite left Belmont on Wednesday and will be based at Lantern Hill Farm in Midway, Ky., until the sale.

Hessonite was the champion New York-bred turf filly or mare in 2011 and was the champion New York-bred older filly or mare in 2012.

“She’s been great to me, there’s not any more to gain,” Donk said. “She’s going to make somebody a heck of a broodmare.”