HORSE RACING / HANDICAPPING 101

[blackcat]

Stopchargingmaria has been one of my favorites! Very glad she has the kind of owners who put her welfare first.

Stopchargingmaria (Tale of the Cat–Exotic Bloom, by Montbrook) has been retired from racing, Town and Country Racing LLC’s president Shannon Potter announced Wednesday. The Todd Pletcher trainee wraps up her career with nine wins from 18 starts and earnings of $3,014,000. She captured three Grade I events–including the GI Alabama S. and GI Coaching Club American Oaks as a 3-year-old in 2014–and finished in the money in 14 of her 18 total starts.

“Stopchargingmaria is not only one of the best fillies we have had in our barn, she has become part of the family. We are sending her home sound and happy. After a Breeders’ Cup Championship, three Grade I wins and over $3 million in earnings, she deserves a great retirement,” said Pletcher.

Stopchargingmaria began her 2016 campaign with a narrowly beaten runner-up effort in the GI Madison S. at Keeneland in April and most recently was sixth in the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont June 11.

“While we were hoping Stopchargingmaria would be able to defend her Breeders’ Cup title, she is giving us signs that she is ready to start the next phase of her life,” said Town and Country CEO Kiki Courtelis. “She has given us so much joy, it is our turn to give back to her by honoring her wishes. We are thrilled to have her home sound.”

Campaigned by Repole Stable through 2014, Stopchargingmaria was acquired privately by Town and Country Racing after she RNA’d for $3.15 million at that year’s Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Sale.