Special Me is aptly named, indeed. She has climbed into elite status among North America’s active broodmares, as Gina Romantica became her second Grade 1 winner, and fourth graded stakes winner overall, in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Saturday at Keeneland.

The Jockey Club released breeding statistics Wednesday that indicate the live foal crop of 2022 is down about 2.2 percent. 

The Jockey Club reported that 1,303 stallions covered 29,065 mares in North America during 2021, according to statistics compiled through Oct. 6, 2022. These breedings have resulted in 18,609 live foals of 2022 being reported to The Jockey Club. 

Early Voting, winner of this year's Preakness Stakes, has been retired and will stand at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky for 2023.

With Early Voting’s retirement, two of this year’s three American classic winners are now retired, as Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal has taken up residence at Spendthrift Farm. Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike remains in training. 

Stradivarius, who put together a legendary career as a stayer in England and France, has been retired and will enter stud next year at the National Stud in Newmarket, England.

Stradivarius, an 8-year-old by Sea The Stars, had been sidelined with a bruised foot last month. A slow recovery ultimately led owner-breeder Bjorn Nielsen to declare the horse’s retirement.

Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal has been retired and will begin his stud career in 2023 at Spendthrift Farm, the farm announced late Friday night.

Mandaloun, who will hold a place in racing history for being promoted to the victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, has been retired to stand at Juddmonte's Lexington, Ky., farm, the international operation announced Tuesday.

The brilliant and unbeaten Flightline, who has several connections to Lane’s End Farm, will officially stand at that facility “upon the conclusion of his racing career.”

Graded stakes winner and pensioned sire Broken Vow died on Saturday of natural causes at Pin Oak Farm in Versailles, Ky. A homebred son of Unbridled who raced for and stood at Pin Oak, Broken Vow was 25.

Trained by Graham Motion, Broken Vow won 9 of 14 starts and missed the board only once. His five stakes victories were highlighted by the Grade 2 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth and Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes at Keeneland in 2001; he also placed in four graded stakes.

Off a strong start to his freshman season, Grade 1 winner Girvin has been "called up" from Florida to the Kentucky stallion ranks, the epicenter of the American breeding industry and where he will have access to additional high-quality mares to continue his ascent.

Girvin, by Tale of Ekati, entered stud in 2019 at Ocala Stud, in a partnership between that farm's O'Farrell family; the Jones family of Airdrie Stud; and the Grand Oaks Farm of Brad and Misty Grady, who campaigned Girvin on the track. He will now stand the 2023 season at Airdrie in Midway, Ky.

Grade 1 winner and successful sire Include was euthanized in July at Airdrie Stud, it was reported this week. 

The 25-year-old son of Broad Brush had been pensioned following the 2021 breeding season and continued to reside at Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., his home since 2003. According to the Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported his death, the stallion had been pensioned due to a heart condition, which had recently been worsening, leading to the decision to euthanize him.