by Jeff Lowe

Undefeated Grade 1 winner Bustin Stones has been retired due to a recurrence of the foot trouble that prevented him from racing this summer.

Trainer Bruce Levine and owner-breeder Roddy Valente hoped to start the City Zip colt out of Shesasurething, by Prospectors Gamble, one more time in the Sentient Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.

Bustin Stones already was scheduled to stand the 2009 season at Waldorf Farm in North Chatham, New York. He is being syndicated for $20,000 a share and will stand for $6,500, Levine said.

Levine scratched Bustin Stones from the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2) on July 26 at Saratoga Race Course after he developed a bruise on his left front foot.

“I two-minute licked him the other day and his foot is stinging him a little bit, and it’s just not 100%,” Levine said. “I would probably have to give him a little more time, and if I can’t make the Breeders’ Cup, it seems like it’s time to stop on him.”

Bustin Stones was never headed in six career starts. He won a trio of restricted stakes races for New York-breds before taking the General George Handicap (G2) by a head at Laurel Park on February 18. He scored by a half-length in the Carter Handicap (G1) on April 5 at Aqueduct in what turned out to be his final start.

A fever knocked Bustin Stones out of the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on May 26 at Belmont Park.

“It’s pretty incredible to have a horse go six-for-six in his life and never be headed,” Levine said. “I don’t know how many horses have never been headed. That’s saying a lot.”

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer