NEWS
King’s Bishop winner Visionaire retired
Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:33 AM
VISIONAIRE
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
Grade 1 winner Visionaire has been retired after not fully recovering from a knee injury.
Stud plans have not been made for the four-year-old Grand Slam colt out of Scarlet Tango, by French Deputy.
Visionaire, a deep closer, rumbled through fog at Aqueduct last March to win the Gotham Stakes (G3) (click here for video of the Gotham) by a nose over Texas Wildcatter. He scored an allowance victory at 6½ furlongs on July 24 at Saratoga Race Course and followed with a sweeping triumph in the NetJets King’s Bishop Stakes (G1) (click here for video of the King's Bishop), circling the field and drawing clear by 2¼ lengths on August 23.
In two subsequent starts, Visionaire finished off the board in the Jerome Handicap (G2) (click here for video of the Jerome)and Hill ‘n’ Dale Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) (click here for video of the Cigar Mile).
“Visionaire most likely suffered a knee chip in the King’s Bishop,” said Michael Matz, who trained the colt for Vision Racing and Team Valor International. “His next two races were unlike him. Surgery was performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage last fall, but he has not trained to our satisfaction, so the owners have decided to retire him rather than blemish his racing record.”
Visionaire, who won five of 12 starts and earned $465,882, will be available for inspection by prospective buyers at Paragon Farm of Vision Racing partners Brandon and Diannah Perry in Lexington.
Reiley McDonald bred Visionaire in Kentucky.
