Multiple graded stakes winner Moreno retired

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Moreno, winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes in 2014 and the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic this year – both $1.5 million races – has been retired from racing, trainer Eric Guillot said Sunday.

The decision was after Moreno finished eighth of nine in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. Guillot said Moreno just had general “wear and tear, and he can no longer compete at the higher level.”

Guillot said Moreno would ship to his farm in Midway, Ky., in a few days and stay there until such time as he and his partner, Michael Moreno, could look into a permanent retirement home for the 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper. Guillot mentioned Old Friends is very close to his farm in Kentucky.

“I could walk him there,” Guillot said.

Moreno had a record of 4-9-4 from 29 career starts, and he earned $2,992,120. He competed in 19 consecutive stakes races.

Guillot thought so highly of Moreno before he ever raced that he changed the horse’s name to Moreno, in honor of his business partner, Michael Moreno.

It took Moreno 10 tries to win his maiden, something he did on the undercard of the 2013 Belmont Stakes. In his next start, Moreno won the Grade 2 Dwyer at Belmont by seven lengths. After finishing third in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy, Moreno finished second, beaten a nose, by Will Take Charge in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga, and finished second to that same horse in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby at Parx.

In six starts this year, Moreno won the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic, setting a track record of 1:48.81 for 1 1/8 miles, and was second to Shared Belief in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and also second in the Grade 2 Californian.

“I bought and picked out the mare, named him after one of my best friends, how can you not be proud of this horse?” Guillot said. “He’s deserving of a great home where people can go pet him.”

Michael Moreno, who races under the name Southern Equine Stable, said, “We didn’t want to cheapen him and run him in races that weren’t of this caliber."

“He gave us our biggest thrill to date in this business, winning the Whitney,” Moreno added. “He was a fan favorite because of how hard he ran every time he raced.”