Skimming retires to stud

DEL MAR, Calif. - Skimming, who won the Pacific Classic in 2000 and 2001, has been retired and will enter stud next spring at Stephen Sahadi's Cardiff Stud Farm near Atascadero, Calif., according to bloodstock agent Gayle Van Leer, who helped broker the deal.

Skimming was a terror at Del Mar, where he won both the Pacific Classic and San Diego Handicap in consecutive years. A 6-year-old son of Nureyev, he was in training earlier this year for a defense of his Pacific Classic title, but he was injured earlier this summer at Hollywood Park before returning to the races. Skimming last raced in October, finishing second in the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

Skimming, a Juddmonte Farms homebred, began his career in Europe, then thrived in this country under the training of Bobby Frankel. He won 8 of 20 starts, and earned $2,286,598.

"We had been pestering Juddmonte about this horse for two years," Van Leer said.

Shares will be sold but Juddmonte will retain 25 to 33 percent of the horse, Van Leer said. Skimming's stud fee next spring will be $7,500.