Prince of Monaco retired with bone bruising

Prince of Monaco, a Grade 1-winning 2-year-old of 2023, has been retired from racing due to minor bone bruising that would force him to miss the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Grade 1 Malibu at Santa Anita later in the year, according to his connections.

Prince of Monaco, a son of Speightstown trained by Bob Baffert for a group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables, will stand stud at Claiborne Farm.

Prince of Monaco had a record of 3-2-0 from six starts. At 2, he won the Grade 3 Best Pal and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity before finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

At 3, Prince of Monaco finished second, beaten a half-length, by Book’em Danno in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens and was second, beaten a neck by Domestic Product, in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens. He was under consideration, but was not pre-entered for this year’s BC Sprint.

“He demonstrated brilliance almost every time he stepped onto the racetrack,” said Tom Ryan, head of SF Racing. “His two Grade 1 battles in New York helped him earn a massive fan base both on and off the track.

“His exceptional talent produced faster [Ragozin sheet numbers] than the winners in both of his races as a 3-year-old. As Speightstown’s only Grade 1-winning 2-year-old colt on dirt, we wish him all the best in the coming years as he begins his stud career at Claiborne Farm.”