Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's retired

Two Phil’s, runner-up in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 and a leading member of the 2023 class of 3-year-olds, has been retired from racing.

The colt’s trainer, Larry Rivelli, said he and Two Phil’s’ group of owners decided to end the colt’s racing career on advice from noted equine veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage.

Though it was reported Sunday that Two Phil’s was being shipped from Rivelli’s stable at Hawthorne Race Course outside Chicago to the Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic in Lexington, Kentucky, where Bramlage practices, Two Phil’s never left Rivelli’s barn. Rivelli said radiographs of the colt’s injured ankle were sent to Bramlage for analysis. A fractured sesamoid was diagnosed and Bramlage deemed the prognosis for Two Phil's fully recovering his racing capacity “poor to fair,” according to Rivelli.

“In our experience they’re never really the same after something like this,” Rivelli said.

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Two Phil’s on Saturday impressively won the Ohio Derby at Thistledown, earning his second straight 105 Beyer Speed Figure, making him at least as fast as any horse in this crop. Second to Mage in the Kentucky Derby, Two Phil’s widely is acknowledged to have run at least as well as the winner, who closed from the rear of the field while Two Phil’s contested a taxing pace that enervated all the other horses caught up in it.

Two Phil’s, Rivelli said, initially appeared to exit the Ohio Derby in good physical condition before an ankle injury was detected Sunday morning.

“It’s devastating. This is the fastest horse I’ve ever trained, and he was just blossoming,” said Rivelli.

By Hard Spun out of Mia Torri, by General Quarters, Two Phil’s brought a compelling back story to the Derby, the first runner in the race for Rivelli, jockey Jareth Loveberry, and his main owner.

He was the first horse bred by Phillip Sagan, who, along with his son Anthony had purchased Mia Torri as an unraced prospect, the first Thoroughbred the Sagans had owned. Two Phil’s was entered in a yearling sale but failed to meet his reserve, and later he was withdrawn from a second sale after potential buyers showed scant interest. The Sagans sent the colt to Rivelli, who began training Two Phil’s and brought in longtime client Vince Foglia, whose nom de course is Patricia’s Hope LLC, as a principal owner. After Two Phil’s romped in the Jeff Ruby Steaks in March, the Sagans sold half of their minority share to Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables.

No stud deal has yet been made, Rivelli said, and Two Phil’s sometime in the next week will be shipped to Kentucky, where he’ll be presented to stallion farms.

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