Santa Anita: Bourbon Bay retired

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bourbon Bay, the winner of the San Juan Capistrano in 2010 and 2012 at Santa Anita and five other stakes in Southern California, has been retired, trainer Neil Drysdale said.

Drysdale had Bourbon Bay nominated for Sunday’s $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap, but decided to end the career of the 7-year-old gelding after talking with owner David Heerensperger. Bourbon Bay worked six furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park last Monday before the decision was made on retirement.

“He hasn’t been performing to expectations,” Drysdale said. “He’s made almost a million dollars. We’ll find a home for him.”

Bourbon Bay won 9 of 30 starts and $969,466. He won his last race in the 2012 San Juan, closing from last in a field of six to win by a nose over Eagle Poise in a thrilling running of the marathon over about 1 3/4 miles on turf.

Bourbon Bay lost his final two starts of 2012, and struggled in two starts this year. He was seventh in the Grade 2 San Luis Rey Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf here in March and fifth in an optional claimer at Golden Gate Fields on April 6, in his final career start.

Earlier in his career, Bourbon Bay won the San Luis Rey Stakes in 2010 and 2012. He was second or third in three Grade 1 races, including a second in the 2011 Hollywood Turf Cup behind Sanagas.