'He looks fantastic'; Vyjack retired to home farm at age 8

Vyjack, who ran 18th in the 2013 Kentucky Derby, has retired home to Machmer Hall Farm, where breeder Carrie Brogden ensured he'd always have a place.

The multiple graded stakes winner sold twice at auction, secondly to Dave Wilkenfeld's Pick Six Racing, which campaigned the gelding throughout his 31-race career.

Carrie Brogden and her husband, Craig, never strayed too far.

"It was really great," Carrie Brogden said. "We went to the barn. We did the Derby walkover with him."

Post-Triple Crown series, the gelding went on to win Belmont Park's Kelso (G2) at age 4 and Santa Anita's City of Hope Mile (G2) at age 6. Vyjack raced twice last year, finishing second in a pair of stakes starts, and worked out as recently as May 29.

"It's very, very mild," she said. "I would say within...60 to 90 days -- whenever he's right -- he will be re-homed. I'm astounded at how quickly his personality has changed, honestly. He was always surly. That's why he was gelded very early on. He wouldn't have won for maiden ($10,000) if he wasn't gelded. They couldn't get him to the track."

On Sunday, Craig Brogden shared a photo of Vyjack back in Paris, Ky. But Monday morning, the horse "came running up to me in the field happy as a lark," Carrie Brogden said. "He looks fantastic. He doesn't show any weight loss from his trip from California. They paid for the van ride -- everything. They're amazing."

Carrie Brogden said she's already seen interest in Vyjack for his next career. She suggested the big horse -- at more than 16 hands -- would be ideal at eventing or hunting.