Imagine That!

The Green Monkey is retired!

...and after only three non-winning starts. Even better, he will be standing at stud here in Florida at the same farm that sold him for the record breaking price of $16 million.

So let's recap: the horse's claim to fame is running 1/8th of a mile in 9.8 seconds and selling for an over-rated $16 million dollars. That's it. All the hype and the horse has lived up to NONE of it.

The Green Monkey retired, will stand at Hartley/De Renzo - Thoroughbred Times

and now for my favorite quote by Randy Hartley:

“He got hurt as a two-year-old at Churchill [Downs], and he never was the same. He pulled his hamstring and it ended up being something in his neck eventually that retired him, but he looks fantastic. We go for a good looking individual, and the people who breed to the stallions at our farm want a good looking individual.”

Something in his neck? Brilliant... I can't wait to see the mediocrity passed on in the breeding market.

Racing Recap

Well, both Rags To Riches and The Green Monkey got beat yesterday. Rags To Riches ran a very good second, getting beat 1/2 length by Lear's Princess. Trainer, Todd Pletcher said after the race, “I would never be discouraged with this filly,” “I still think she is the best three-year-old filly in the country. “I think she is one of the best we’ve seen in a long time. Sometimes, the best get beat.”

The Green Monkey didn't fare as well. He finished a flat third place after chasing a strong pace. He had a small rally in the stretch, basically right before he got his doors blown off.

The Green Monkey

A year and a half since becoming the most expensive horse ever purchased at public auction, The Green Monkey is set to make his career debut on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Jockey John Velazquez will ride The Green Monkey for trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Susan Magnier, who bought the Florida-bred colt for $16-million from consignor Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds in the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Calder selected sale of two-year-olds in training.

Due to the long time and many setbacks in getting this horse race ready, he has become a bit of a joke among the horse community. Many speculated that he would never start. It will be interesting to see how he does in his debut and what type of career he will have. Saturday, the questions will be answered.