Unbeaten Grade 1 winner Cavalieri retired

Unbeaten Grade 1 winner Cavalieri has been retired, and Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm has purchased a majority interest in her as a broodmare.

Cavalieri, a 5-year-old Nyquist mare, was trained by Bob Baffert for Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner’s Speedway Stables. She most recently raced winning the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes last Sept. 28, but subsequently missed the Breeders’ Cup Distaff with what was termed a “very minor” injury, the nature of which was not disclosed. Baffert, at that time, indicated she would return to racing.

“In light of the fact she has nothing more to prove race wise, it was considered appropriate timing to breed her,” Fluor said in a release issued Thursday. “It has been a pleasure to be part of her journey.”

Mating plans for the mare will be finalized shortly, Hill ‘n’ Dale’s John Sikura said in the release.

“We are always seeking to purchase elite broodmares to elevate our band and Cavalieri was a wonderful racemare, an undefeated Grade 1 winner by leading sire Nyquist,” Sikura said. “She is a supreme physical [specimen] who was never challenged on the racetrack. These types of mares are rare, and I appreciate Speedway Stables selling us a majority interest and becoming our partners. They are such a high class operation, and will retain an interest in her breeding career.”

Cavalieri won all five of her starts, highlighted by the Grade 1 B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile last March, after which, she did not race until the Zenyatta. She also won the Grade 3 La Canada early last year.

Cavalieri is out of the stakes-winning Stephen Got Even mare Stiffed, and is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Affirmative Lady.

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