Multiple Grade 1 winner Carpe Diem retired

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Carpe Diem, the winner of the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April, has been retired.

According to WinStar Farm president and chief executive Elliott Walden, Carpe Diem injured his right knee. Owned by WinStar and Stonestreet Stables, Carpe Diem will stand at stud in 2016 at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky.

Carpe Diem has not started since finishing 10th, beaten 11 lengths by American Pharoah, in the Kentucky Derby. A son of Giant’s Causeway, Carpe Diem had been pointed for the Belmont Stakes but was withdrawn from consideration the week of the race when he wasn’t training well enough. As a 2-year-old, Carpe Diem won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

Carpe Diem also captured the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby in his 3-year-old debut. He retires with four wins in six starts and earnings of more than $1.5 million.

Barbara Banke, owner of Stonestreet, noted that Carpe Diem won at Saratoga in his debut before getting his Grade 1 wins at 2 and 3.

“Carpe Diem offers breeders a great opportunity with conformation, speed, and stamina all packaged within an outstanding pedigree,” she said.

Walden said: “Carpe Diem is as good as any young horse WinStar has ever been involved with, and it’s always bittersweet when you retire a colt of his quality, particularly knowing we likely never got to see his best.

“In the Kentucky Derby, we were in perfect position, but when he switched leads going into the far turn, I felt something wasn’t right. After missing the Belmont, we brought him home to evaluate him and try to get him back for the Haskell. However, a chip finally revealed itself in the lower joint of his right knee, and that can be problematic.”