Report: Top sprinter Yaupon is retired after injury at Santa Anita

Yaupon, winner of last month's Forego Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and a top contender for this year's Breeders' Cup Sprint, was injured during training Friday at Santa Anita and has been retired. 

Trainer Steve Asmussen told Daily Racing Form's David Grening Yaupon fractured a sesamoid in his left hind leg, which will not require surgery. Earlier this month, it was announced this would be the final season of racing for Yaupon before heading to Spendthrift Farm in central Kentucky to stand the 2022 breeding season.

Yaupon was shipped to Santa Anita following the Aug. 28 Forego to prepare for a planned start in the Oct. 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (G2) followed by a second try in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, which this year will be held about 110 miles south of Santa Anita at Del Mar. 

Last year, Yaupon won his first four career starts, including the Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga and Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico, before finishing off the board as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

A 4-year-old colt by Uncle Mo, Yaupon is owned by Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt. He kicked off this season with a disappointing effort in the Golden Shaheen (G1) in Dubai, but returned to win the listed Lite the Fuse Stakes at Pimlico before taking the Forego. In the Forego, Yaupon prevailed by a head after being savaged by runner-up Firenze Fire in deep stretch. 

Yaupon, a $255,000 auction purchase as a yearling, retires with a record of 8: 6-0-0 with earnings of $703,264.