Mission Approved retired, to be offered at Keeneland January sale

Grade 1 winner Mission Approved has been retired for racing and is cataloged as a stallion prospect in the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale on Jan. 9, Blood-Horse reports.

The 9-year-old son of With Approval finishes his career with eight wins in 29 starts over six campaigns for earnings of $827,210. Originally campaigned by William Coyro and trainer Gary Contessa, Mission Approved won the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes in 2007 and the Singspiel Stakes in 2008.

His form began to tail off after a second-place effort defending his Singspiel victory, and he was eventually claimed by Naipaul Chatterpaul for $35,000 at Belmont Park. A month later, Chatterpaul, acting as both owner and trainer, entered With Approval in the Grade 1 Man O’ War Stakes, his second attempt at the race, and he was beaten by a neck against champion Gio Ponti. It was the horse’s final start of 2009, but he returned off an 11-month layoff the following year to win the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap.

Bred in New York by Coyro, his original owner, Mission Approved is out of the winning Fortunate Prospect mare Fortunate Find, who has four winners from as many foals to race. He is from the family of multiple Grade 1 winner and sire El Senor and Brazilian Group 1 winner O Dragao.

Stud plans for Mission Approved are pending, but he is scheduled be offered as a stallion prospect near the end of the fourth and final day of the Keeneland January sale, consigned as agent by Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services.