Never Retreat retired, she will miss the shot at the Marshua’s River Stakes at Gulfstream Park
Never Retreat was expected to be retired after her disappointing third place finish in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park on 25 November, 2011, after being sent off as the 4 to 5 favourite, but trainer Chris M. Block decided to give the then, 6-year-old mare, another chance at a grade 3 event at Gulfstream Park on 7 January, 2011, in the Marshua’s River Stakes.
The newly turned 7-year-old mare got shipped to Florida to be considered for theGrade 3 Marshua’s River Stakes, a race that she finished 3rd in 2011 to winner, Justaroundmidnight, and runner up, Persuading.
The Kentucky bred daughter of Smart Strike, out of mare Lisieux by Steady Growth, Never Retreat turned in a couple of workouts at Gulfstream Park in December, and she came out with a foot problem that proved to be the final nail in to coffin for Never Retreat.
“There was no use trying to make it back after that,” said Block
Jeff Singer and Team Block owned mare, Never Retreat had a sparkling end to her 2011 campaign, at the back end where she managed to pick up a win in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at about 1 1/8 miles over the Woodbine race course’s turf track.
On 18 September, Never Retreat defeated Perfect Shirl, who eventually won a Breeders’ Cup race for herself, in second, and Stars to Shine in third, while she bagged the 1 1/8 mile event in 1 minute and 45.13 seconds.
She was then pointed towards the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, and with Blind Luck sustaining a career ending injury in the beginning of the race, it became a clear cut, wide open race for all the contestants, but despite the field getting a true advantage of losing one of the best so early in the race, somebody had to put in those extra yards to seal the deal.
Never Retreat rose on top and grabbed the opportunity to bag herself another Grade 1 race, defeating Together in a close rally as Daveron finished third, while Never Retreat Covered the 1 mile distance on turf in 1 minute and 35.45 seconds at Hollywood Park.
The 7-year-old mare will be bred this season to War Front, said trainer Chris Block on 2 January, 2012.
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