Lone Rock, eight-times stakes winner, retired
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Lone Rock, an eight-time stakes-winning marathoner and earner of $1.4 million, has been retired from racing, his connections said Saturday morning.
That decision was made two days after the 8-year-old gelding was basically eased finishing sixth in the $150,000 Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga, the second consecutive race in which he was well beaten.
“He’s been too good to even think about doing something wrong,” said Jay Provenzano, of Flying P Stables, which owns Lone Rock in partnership with Randy Hill and Flying Partners.
Lone Rock, by Majestic Warrior, won 16 races from 45 starts and earned $1,446,291. From Oct. 21, 2020 through Dec. 18, 2021, Lone Rock won nine of 11 starts highlighted by an 11 1/4-length score in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at Belmont Park. He also won the Birdstone at Saratoga and the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, the latter on the undercard of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
“That horse took us around the country and won stakes on major racing days,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said. “He won on Belmont Day, [Kentucky] Derby week, Breeders’ Cup Day, and his personality made him extra special, too.”
Provenzano twice claimed Lone Rock for $40,000, the first time exactly three years ago, July 29, 2020, and then again in November of that year. Over his last three racing seasons, Lone Rock earned $1,140,534.
Lone Rock made the first 25 starts of his career for Shortleaf Stable and was trained for those races by William Vanmeter (19 races) and Bill Mott (six races).
Diodoro said the plan is to make Lone Rock his stable pony.
“We’ll keep him around, he’s got the perfect personality for it,” Diodoro said.
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