Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line retired

Firing Line, second to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, has been retired, his connections announced Tuesday evening. Stud plans are pending for the 4-year-old Line of David colt.

Firing Line, trained throughout his career by Simon Callaghan for Arnold Zetcher, concludes his career with two wins from eight starts. He had just one start in the last year.

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Firing Line first garnered notice for finishing a close second to Dortmund in both the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity and Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes. He then scored his lone graded stakes victory in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby, romping by 14 1/4 lengths. He was subsequently second by a length to American Pharoah in the Derby, the smallest margin of victory for American Pharoah in the Triple Crown series.

Two weeks later, Firing Line finished seventh on a sloppy track in the Preakness after stumbling at the start. Later that summer, he had a bone chip removed from an ankle, and was shelved for the rest of the year.

Firing Line made one start this year, finishing fifth in an optional claimer in July at Santa Anita. He was then taken out of training after becoming sick.

"Firing Line was by far the best horse I've ever owned," Zetcher said in a release. "He gave us the thrill of a lifetime."