'Favorite Trick' Put Out To Stud

Favorite Trick, last year's Horse of the Year as a 2-year-old when he was unbeaten in eight races, has been retired.

He will stand at stud at Walmac International in Lexington, Ky. for a fee of $30,000 per live foal. He arrived there Thursday after being shipped from trainer Bill Mott's barn at Churchill Downs.

Owner Joseph Lacombe said he "struggled with the decision whether to retire him" but said that "after listening to people whose opinions I respect, it seemed like the right time to send him to stud."

"He's in completely fine shape," Lacombe said. "He had a fine career and nothing else to prove."

In being voted Horse of the Year in 1997, Favorite Trick became the first 2-year-old to receive that honor since Secretariat in 1972.

His victories last year included the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, the Hopeful Stakes, the Breeders' Futurity and the Saratoga Special.

This year, as a 3-year-old, Favorite Trick won the Jim Dandy, Swale, Keeneland Breeders' Cup Mile and Long Branch Stakes. In his last start, he finished eighth as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Mile last Saturday at Churchill Downs. Favorite Trick retires with earnings of $1,726,793 and a 12-0-1 record in 16 career races.

"He had one great year," Mott said, "but it was just time to go. There are a lot of people looking to breed to him."

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