Injury ends Ransom the Moon's racing career

ARCADIA, Calif. - The three-time graded stakes winner Ransom the Moon will miss the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3 and has been retired because of a pastern injury

Trainer Phil D’Amato said Friday that the injury was detected Thursday after a review of radiographs by several veterinarians. Ransom the Moon was scheduled to have his final start in the BC Sprint before going to stud at Calumet Farm.

D’Amato said Ransom the Moon will be sent to Calumet in coming days.

“We felt with the time frame for the Breeders’ Cup we couldn’t have him 100 percent,” he said.

Owned by Agave Racing and Jeffry Wilke, Ransom the Moon had a fees-paid berth for the BC Sprint for winning the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July. Ransom the Moon was third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 6 in his final start.

A 6-year-old by Malibu Moon, Ransom the Moon won 6 of 25 starts and earned $884,829. In 2017, Ransom the Moon won two stakes – the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita in May and the Bing Crosby Stakes. He was later fifth in the BC Sprint at Del Mar last November.