Stellar Wind withdrawn from Keeneland sale, will race again in 2017

ARCADIA, Calif. - Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, will remain in training in 2017 after being withdrawn from the Keeneland November breeding stock Sale, trainer John Sadler said on Sunday.

Stellar Wind was scheduled to be sold on Tuesday.

Stellar Wind finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita last Friday. She broke slowly and raced wide on the final turn, but was unable to close ground, finishing 3 3/4 lengths behind race winner Beholder.

Owners Pete and Kosta Hronis and Sadler decided on Sunday to keep Stellar Wind in California. She will be given a rest in advance of a race campaign next year.

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“She’s out of the sale,” Sadler said. “I wanted to see her post-race and she is in good shape. She could have left on a plane on [Saturday or Sunday].

“We were disappointed that it didn’t go her way on Friday. She took a little step back when they sprung it.”

Stellar Wind has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $1,453,200. She was second to Beholder in the Grade 1 Vanity Mile in June and beat Beholder in her next two starts – the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 30 and the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 1.

A similar campaign is expected in 2017, with the intent of having Stellar Wind in the BC Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 3, 2017. Sadler said a starting race for Stellar Wind’s 2017 season has not been determined.