Grade 1 Winner Kopion Retired; Tamara to Undergo Tests

Spendthrift Farm's general manager Ned Toffey confirmed Nov. 9 that multiple grade 1 winner Kopion has been retired and will begin her broodmare career. The Daily Racing Form first reported the news. The 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach ran fifth against the boys in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar for trainer Richard Mandella. She came out of the race in good order and is expected to ship to Spendthrift Farm near Lexington early next week. Toffey said a stallion to breed to Kopion has not yet been decided. "Into Mischief is a possibility, it's just not set in stone, but we'll look at options," Toffey said, referencing the farm's six-time leading sire. Earlier in the year, Kopion won back-to-back races in the Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and the Derby City Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs. Before the Breeders' Cup Sprint, she was runner-up in the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) and the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1). Spendthrift purchased Kopion as a yearling at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $270,000. She was bred in Kentucky by Tall Oaks Farm and is a half sister to Canada's 2016 champion 3-year-old colt Amis Gizmo. She retires with a record of 5-3-0 from 10 career starts and $1,204,700 in career earnings. Spendthrift's homebred Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), who was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) by track veterinarians, has returned to her home base at Santa Anita Park. Toffey said the intention is to run her next year, but she will undergo tests this week to ensure her health. "Richard (Mandella) was very disappointed, but out of an abundance of caution, we're going to just get a workup on her, make sure there's nothing going on," Toffey said. "The plan is to run her this year, so unless we find something problematic, we'll run her this year." Tamara, daughter of Hall of Famer and four-time Eclipse champion Beholder, who was also trained by Mandella, has been plagued by injuries throughout her talented but brief career. She broke her maiden on debut and followed up that effort with a dominating 6 3/4-length victory in the 2023 Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1). After being sidelined for most of her 3-year-old season, she returned last fall to run a gallant second in an allowance optional claiming race, beaten only by a nose. In her first and only start in 2025, she won the Chillingworth Stakes (G3) Oct. 4 by 3 3/4 lengths. Toffey said if all goes well, Tamara will stay in training with a goal to run in the 2026 Breeders' Cup World Championships at Keeneland.