Grade 1 winner Didia is retired and will become broodmare

Grade 1-winning turf mare Didia, who was being pointed to a title defense in the $500,000 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G2) next month, has been retired.

Trainer Nacho Correas said Thursday that the 6-year-old mare owned by Merriebelle Stable and Resolute Racing will embark on a new career as a broodmare in 2025.

“Didia is retired. She’s going to be mama,” Correas said. “She was a very nice horse, and she’ll make a great mama.”

After months of trying to acquire her, Resolute’s John Stewart bought into Didia following her popular, come-from-behind, neck victory over long shot Surprisingly in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf on Jan. 27. It was the third graded triumph for Didia following the 2023 Rodeo Drive (G2) and Modesty (G3).

The Pegasus would be the richest race won by Didia, who two starts later would become a Grade 1 winner in the June 7 New York Stakes at Saratoga. She ran three more times this year capped by a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Didia had three timed works at Keeneland after the Breeders’ Cup, most recently going four furlongs in 50.4 seconds over the all-weather training track. She retires with a record of 20: 11-2-2 and $1,758,484 in purse earnings, the first seven starts coming in her native Argentina where she was a two-time Group 1 winner.

“Every time a good horse leaves your barn, you’re very thankful for everything they have given you. The fact is they’re not easy to replace,” Correas said. “But we have some new faces. She’s going to be missed, of course, but hopefully, someone can take her place.”

One possibility is Tutta La Vita, a three-time Group 1-placed mare in her native Australia who was entered by Resolute to make her North America debut in Saturday’s opener at Gulfstream, an optional-claiming allowance for filles and mares, 3 and up, scheduled for one mile on the turf.

“It’s very exciting. She’s training very well. It’s her first time in America, and we hope she runs a good race,” Correas said. “She’s done well since she’s been here. If not, we would have waited longer. We’re looking forward to her running.”