Classic-placed Ohio Derby (G3) winner Two Phil's has been officially retired due to a fractured sesamoid in his left front ankle, his trainer Larry Rivelli confirmed June 28.
The 3-year-old son of Hard Spun came up lame following a 5 3/4-length romp in the June 24 Ohio Derby and an assessment of radiographs sent to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Larry Bramlage at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital led to a prognosis of "poor to fair," according to Rivelli and initially reported by Daily Racing Form.
"We decided to retire him, just when he was starting to blossom," Rivelli said. "We had everything mapped out but it is woulda, coulda, shoulda. Now we are weighing all the options to stand him in Kentucky. We have a couple of serious farms that are interested."
Two Phil's is owned by Patricia's Hope, Madaket Stables, and his breeder Phillip Sagan. The partners and Rivelli have retained agent Bradley Weisbord to negotiate the stud deal. The colt is currently in Rivelli's barn at Hawthorne Race Course and is expected to be shipped to Kentucky within the next week.
Anthony Sagan, Phillip Sagan's son, said Wednesday has been a tough day for his family.
"I talked to Larry the day he got hurt, and they were already starting to talk to stud farms, but it has been rough for all of us," he said. "He has been a once-in-a-lifetime horse for me and my father and our family. He has taken us to places we never dreamed, and we've met so many wonderful people. He was an underdog with a lot of fans; so many people rooting for this horse. Now it is over and we're left wondering how good this horse could have been."
Judged by his top Equibase Speed Figure for the year, Two Phil's is among the best of his sophomore class. He earned a career-best 115 ESF in the Ohio Derby, which ties him with Arabian Lion for the best rating among 2023 3-year-old males through June 28. He also earned a 102 ESF when finishing second to Mage in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Two Phil's retires with a 5-2-1 record from 10 starts, which includes wins in the Street Sense Stakes (G3), Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), and Shakopee Juvenile Stakes. He also placed in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Lecomte Stakes (G3).
"I think he is going to be a great stallion," said Rivelli. "If you know this horse, he has the coolest mentality. You could set off fireworks next to him, and he'll lie down and go to sleep. He loved to train, and he's run huge numbers in his last few starts. Maybe he'll throw us a champion."
Sagan said his family wants to retain some ownership interest in Two Phil's and plans to acquire some additional mares to support him.
"We are hoping this is not the end of Two Phil's legacy. We started with one horse in this game and created Two Phil's," Sagan said referring to their first racehorse and only broodmare Mia Torri, a grade 3-placed stakes winner by General Quarters. "Like his mom, he was getting better with age. Now we want to buy some more mares to support Two Phil's and see where it takes us."
The Sagan family has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Omaha Beach out of Mia Torri that is in training with Jimmy Gladwell in Florida and expected to be sent to a racetrack within a couple of months. The mare also produced a yearling by McKinzie that is being aimed for the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
