Robert Bruce retired, will stand stud in Chile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Robert Bruce, winner of the Grade 1 Arlington Million in 2018, came out of his fourth-place finish in this year’s Million with a soft-tissue injury to a pastern and has been retired from racing, trainer Chad Brown said.

“Although he has a chance to possibly come back it would take a significant amount of time to get him fully healed,” Brown said. “At his age and given his accomplishments we feel – myself and [owner Carl Lavin] – he’s done enough and has earned a well-deserved retirement and second career as a stallion.”

Brown said Robert Bruce would stand at stud in his native Chile, where he won his first six career starts, including four Group 1 events.

Racing for Brown in the United States, Robert Bruce ran in six Grade 1’s, eight graded stakes overall, winning the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Belmont in May 2018 and the Arlington Million. He also finished second in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic last fall and the Grade 1 Manhattan this spring.

Robert Bruce, a son of the Irish-bred stallion Fast Company, retires with a record of 8-2-0 from 14 starts and earnings of $1,321,957.

◗ Ya Primo, runner-up in the Grade 2 Bowling Green, and Annals of Time, a recent allowance winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.10 together Friday morning for Brown over the Oklahoma turf course in preparation for the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer Invitational.

Also working for the Sword Dancer was Channel Cat, the Bowling Green winner, who went a half-mile in 49.49 seconds over the Oklahoma turf for trainer Todd Pletcher.