William de Burgh’s Heatseeker (Ire), one of the leading males in the handicap division by virtue of his victories in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Californian Stakes (G2) this year, was retired on Monday due to a soft tissue injury that would have required a recovery period of at least six months.

Studs plans have not been finalized for the five-year-old Giant’s Causeway horse who last raced on May 31 when winning the Californian by 5 1/4 lengths.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer scratched Heatseeker from an expected start in the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1) on June 28 after he sustained an injury to the medial branch of the suspensory ligament in his left front leg. Owner de Burgh chose to retire Heatseeker when it was clear the horse would be unable to contest the $5-million Breeders Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.

“We are extremely disappointed as we had our sights set on the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic where we figured to be one of the favorites based on Heatseeker's dominance of his division this year,” de Burgh said. “I am very grateful to Jerry and his stable team.  We all had a lot of fun with Heatseeker and I know it is a huge disappointment to them as well.  Horses like him do not come around very often.”

The only foal out of the Defensive Play mare Rusty Back, Heatseeker won seven of 17 starts and earned $1,177,776. He won two of three starts in Ireland as a two-year-old and finished third in the 2005 Laing O’Rourke National Stakes (Ire-G1).

Unplaced in one start as a three-year-old, Heatseeker won three of eight starts as a four-year-old in 2007, including his first career graded stakes win in the Native Diver Handicap (G3).

Heatseeker amassed two wins, two seconds, and one third in five starts this year. He won the Santa Anita Handicap and subsequently finished second in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

“Heatseeker had just come into his own. He is by far the best horse that I have trained,” Hollendorfer said. “I was looking forward to the Breeders' Cup Classic. Heatseeker would have been very difficult to beat.”