• HOME
• BLOG
• NEWS
• RACE TRACKS
• JOCKEYS
• HORSES
• HANDICAPPING
• CONTACT US
• SITE INFO
  • About Us
  • Site Credits

Life At Ten, the two-time Grade 1 winner whose last-place finish in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic created one of the year's biggest controversies, has been retired from racing.

David Vance, manager of Candy DeBartolo's racing stable, said Life At Ten will sell in the Keeneland November mixed auction, which starts in Lexington on Nov. 7. She will be part of the Three Chimneys Sales agency's consignment, Vance said. "That's the firm plan," Vance said.

"For whatever reason, she hasn't been able to regain her form," trainer Todd Pletcher said on Sunday. "It looked like she had in the morning."

A 6-year-old Malibu Moon mare, Life At Ten is winless this year and most recently finished fifth to Havre de Grace in the Beldame. She won the race last year in a season that also saw her take the Ogden Phipps Handicap and finish third in the Personal Ensign, bringing her total stakes tally to six.

Life At Ten came into the Breeders' Cup off her two-length 2010 Beldame victory and was sent off at nearly 4-1. She finished last after Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, in separate television interviews, made comments suggesting that the mare was listless in the paddock and was not warming up properly. During the race, Velazquez did not push Life At Ten, who days later developed a fever and was found to have a high white blood-cell count indicative of infection.

Neither Velazquez nor Pletcher had contacted Churchill Downs stewards or track veterinarians before the race, but an HRTV producer, Amy Zimmerman, did relay their comments to the stewards. After the race, DeBartolo criticized the stewards for not scratching her horse. The incident prompted a two-month probe by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. Velazquez settled with the commission and paid a $10,000 fine without admitting any wrongdoing. The commission found probable cause that Velazquez and chief state steward John Veitch had violated state racing rules and held a hearing in June, and hearing officer Bob Layton's recommendation is expected before the end of the year.

Life At Ten retires now with 8 wins, 6 seconds, and 4 thirds from 22 lifetime starts. She earned $1,277,515. She won at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles.

Nickelback Farm bred Life At Ten from their Rahy winner Rahrahsixboombah. Life At Ten is the mare's second foal and first stakes-winner.

-- additional reporting by David Grening

Comments (0)