US RACING: Honor AP retired after getting injured in Kentucky Derby

Lane’s End farm announced Monday that Honor A P will retire from racing and stand the 2021 season at their Versailles, Ky., farm. The 3-year-old colt retires as a Grade 1 winner and the top earner of his leading second-crop sire, Honor Code.

In his most recent start, Honor A P dealt with an unlucky trip to finish a quickening fourth in the Kentucky Derby, posting a 99 Beyer and traveling an incredible 49 more feet than the winner Authentic. This in turn means that the colt ran the fastest race of the field when accounting for ground loss.

“Honor A P is a horse with an immense talent,” said trainer John Shirreffs. “He was so forward and precocious that he broke his maiden second time out by over 5 lengths going two turns. Honor A P showed brilliance as a 2-year-old from the first time I saw him train and replicated it as a 3-year-old defeating the future Kentucky Derby winner. He ran a super race in the Derby and we later found that he came out of the race with an injury, so all things considered, what he accomplished was something special.”

As a 2-year-old, Honor A P broke his maiden at Santa Anita by over five lengths posting a 91 Beyer, one of the highest of his generation. His first start as a 3-year-old was in graded stakes company when he finished second in the San Felipe Stakes (G2).

In his next start, he won the Santa Anita Derby (G1), posting a 102 Beyer, becoming the only horse to defeat subsequent Kentucky Derby winner Authentic while also defeating Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) winner Rushie. The Santa Anita Derby has long produced breed-shaping sires with past winners, including A P Indy, Sunday Silence, Affirmed, Pioneerof the Nile and more.

In his next start, the Shared Belief Stakes, he posted another 102 Beyer, making him one of four 3-year-old colts in 2020 to post multiple triple-digit Beyers beyond a mile.

“Honor A P was a wow horse from the beginning. He was the highest priced yearling in Honor Code’s first crop. He was a standout 2-year-old at April Mayberry’s and the most recognizable horse in training at Santa Anita,” said Bill Farish of Land's End. “His stunning good looks paired with his obvious talent make him just the type of prospect we are looking for at Lane’s End.”