Lani retired to Arrow Stud in Japan

Lani, the enigmatic Group 2 winner and U.S. classic-placed runner, has been retired from racing, and will stand the 2018 breeding season at Arrow Stud in Hokkaido, Japan.

The 4-year-old son of Tapit finished with three wins in 17 starts for earnings of $1,671,708. He raced as a homebred for owner Yoko Maeda’s North Hills Co. Ltd. and trainer Mikio Matsunaga

Lani began his racing career in Japan, winning his third and fourth starts at age 2. After an unplaced effort in the Hyacinth Stakes in Japan, he was shipped to Meydan Racecourse, where he was an upset winner in the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby.

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The victory in Dubai gave Lani enough qualifying points to enter the 2016 Kentucky Derby. He earned folk status among racing fans Stateside for his defiant, studdish behavior that left his handlers constantly devising new methods to focus the colt’s energy, and keep those around him safe.

Those efforts were unsuccessful in terms of finish position through the first two legs of the Triple Crown. He ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, both at long odds.

Lani’s pedigree and grinding racing style appeared best suited for the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes, and he turned in his strongest U.S. effort, finishing third.

After his Triple Crown campaign, Lani returned to Japan for the autumn racing season, finishing third in his return in the non-graded Brazil Cup Stakes. He then finished 13th in the Group 3 Miyako Stakes and ninth in the Group 1 Champions Cup Stakes.

Lani returned to Dubai to begin his 4-year-old campaign, but could not recapture the magic of his signature win, running sixth in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3, then eighth in the Dubai World Cup. He then finished his season in Japan, where his best effort in three starts was a fourth in the non-graded Brilliant Stakes.

Born in Kentucky, Lani is out of the Japanese Group 1-winning Sunday Silence mare Heavenly Romance, whose six winners from eight runners also includes Japanese Group 3 winner Awardee and stakes winner Amour Briller.

He is from the family of Irish St. Leger winner Lomond, Irish Group 2 winner South Atlantic, and Group 3 winner Forlene.

Lani joins an Arrow Stud roster that includes Grade 1 winner Sinister Minister, Grade 2 winner Battle Plan, and Dubai World Cup runner-up Transcend.