Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner The Good Life will not race again in 2026, WinStar Farm president and CEO Elliott Walden said on X Sept. 22. WinStar bred the son of their first-crop stallion Life Is Good and co-own with First Go Racing and CHC.
"The Good Life is not going to run again this year," Walden said in the post. "We were hoping to make the Breeders' Cup, but he needs time. ... He will be back for a 3-year-old campaign."
Walden said the setback will not require any surgery, but the colt will be given 30 days in the paddock and 30 days of light training. Walden then quoted the late Arthur Hancock III, who died Sept. 18, "If you do right by the horse, they will do right by you."
Trained by Brad Cox, the son of first-crop sire Life Is Good won his debut July 18 at Saratoga Race Course by 3 1/2 lengths over 6 furlongs. He then traveled home to his Churchill Downs base before returning to Saratoga for the Sept. 6 Hopeful, winning the 7-furlong contest by 4 lengths in frontrunning fashion.
