NEWS
Ginger Punch retired, Ventura to remain in training
Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 3:44 PM
GINGER PUNCH
Reed Palmer photo
Stronach Stables has retired Ginger Punch, the 2007 champion older female, following her sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita Park.
Mike Rogers, the Stronach family’s racing manager, said breeding plans have not been decided for the five-year-old Awesome Again mare out of Grade 2 winner Nappelon, by Bold Revenue.
Ginger Punch won the Ladies’ Classic in 2007 at Monmouth Park when the race was called the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She won five other Grade 1 races for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, including the Go for Wand Handicap (G1) and Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) this summer at Saratoga Race Course.
The Florida-bred mare also scored in the 2008 Sunshine Millions Distaff Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Ginger Punch won 12 of 22 career starts and earned $3,065,603.
Frankel said over the weekend that Ventura, a leading candidate for champion female sprinter, would remain in training in 2009.
Ventura registered a four-length victory in the Sentient Flight Group Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on October 24 at Santa Anita.
The four-year-old Chester House filly also won the Just a Game Stakes (G1) on the turf at Belmont Park and Vinery Madison Stakes (G2) on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Keeneland Race Course for owner-breeder Juddmonte Farms. She finished second against males in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (Can-G1).
Frankel said multiple Grade 1 winner Precious Kitten would be retired after making a final start in the Matriarch Stakes (G1) on November 30 at Hollywood Park.
The Catienus mare out of Kitten’s First, by Lear Fan, finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on October 25 for owner Lael Stables. She won last year’s Matriarch.
