Sweet Reason retired with tendon injury

ELMONT, N.Y. – Sweet Reason, a three-time Grade 1-winning filly and earner of more than $1.4 million, has been retired due to a tendon injury, her trainer, Leah Gyarmati, said Thursday.

The injury was discovered shortly after Sweet Reason’s fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs on May 2, her only start this year.

“She came out of the race at Churchill with a little strain of her tendon,” Gyarmati said. “Nothing horrible; enough not to risk doing anything more with her.”

Gyarmati said owner Jeff Treadway plans to consign Sweet Reason to the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky selected fall mixed sale in November.

Sweet Reason, a daughter of Street Sense whom Treadway bought as a yearling for $185,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September selected yearling sale, won 5 of 11 starts and earned $1,437,700.

At 2, Sweet Reason won her first two starts at Saratoga, including the Grade 1 Spinaway. At 3, Sweet Reason won the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont and the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga. Following the Test, Sweet Reason finished second to Untapable – the eventual 3-year-old champion filly – in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx before ending her 3-year-old season with an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

“Obviously, she’s the best horse I ever trained, might be the best horse I’ll ever train,” Gyarmati said. “I feel blessed to have had her this long. I was looking forward to the summer because she likes Saratoga. She brought much joy to the barn. On those mornings when you didn’t want to come to work, she made coming to work worthwhile. I’m going to miss her.”

Gyarmati does hope to have a good summer with Wonder Gal, who finished third in the Grade 1 Acorn, beaten a length by Curalina.

Wonder Gal missed a breeze before the Acorn due to a foot issue. Gyarmati said she will consider running her back in the Grade 1 Mother Goose on June 27, but could wait for the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 26.