Grade 2 winner Divine Miss Grey retired after suffering leg injury

Corms Racing Stable and R. A. Hill Stable's graded-stakes winner Divine Miss Grey, a 12-time winner from 26 career starts, will be retired from racing after being pulled up in the stretch run of Saturday's Fasig-Tipton De La Rose and vanned off, trainer Danny Gargan said.

The chestnut daughter of Divine Park made the grade in the Grade 2 Chilukki at Churchill Downs in November.

Gargan said the 5-year-old mare had fractured a sesamoid in her left foreleg.

"She fractured one sesamoid but didn't tear any ligaments,” Gargan said. “She may need to have surgery on Monday, but she may not.”

A barn favorite, Divine Miss Grey enjoyed her best season in 2018 posting a record of 5-3-1 from 10 starts, including stakes scores in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct, the Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park and the Dr. James Penny Memorial at Parx.

In addition, she hit the board in four graded stakes, finishing second in the Distaff Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct, third in the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth, second in the Beldame (G1) at Belmont and second in the Falls City Handicap (G2) at Churchill.

Divine Miss Grey, who defended her title in the Heavenly Prize Invitational to open her 5-year-old campaign, banked $934,372 in purse earnings through four seasons of racing.

Gargan, who had previously noted plans to retire Divine Miss Grey following this season regardless, said he will miss having the hard-knocking mare in the barn.

"She's going to be a broodmare,” Gargan said. “She's run a lot of races and she's a warrior. She's a tough filly and she always tries.

“She's a special horse and I love her very much. She's got a big fan club."