Storm Mesa retired to breeding shed

Storm Mesa, whose major spring objective had been next month's Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland, has instead been retired, her trainer, Bret Calhoun, said on Monday.

Storm Mesa sustained a fracture to a sesamoid in her right foreleg during a routine gallop earlier this month. The injury did not require surgery, and Calhoun said Storm Mesa was scheduled to be bred last weekend, to Unbridled's Song.

"She was doing better than she'd ever done in her life," said the trainer, who had intended for the 4-year-old Storm Mesa to make her first start of the year in the $75,000 Bienville at her Fair Grounds base March 14.

Storm Mesa won 5 of 12 starts and $336,510 during her career, chief among her wins the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July.

Storm Mesa was also a stakes winner on dirt, winning last year's Grade 3 Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows and the $100,000 Cinemine at Lone Star Park. For her effort at Lone Star, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 108.

"She was equally as good on both surfaces," Calhoun said. "She put a string together of five very impressive races, five wins in a row."

Storm Mesa registered her three career stakes wins during her streak last year. A daughter of Sky Mesa, she is owned by Richard Davis.