Desert Blanc retired to stud

Desert Blanc, winner of the June 9 Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, suffered a tendon injury and has been retired.

The 4-year-old Desert Style colt bred in Great Britain by Haras Du Mezeray impressed in his only two starts in the United States. Desert Blanc finished a good second behind Boisterous in the Fort Marcy Stakes May 5 and then won the Woodford Reserve Manhattan over Papaw Bodie and Boisterous.

He was three-for-five in France in 2011. Chad Brown trained Desert Blanc in the U.S. for owners Swift Thoroughbreds Inc., Mackie Racing, Vintage Thoroughbreds, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.

Peter Bradley, managing co-owner of Bradley Thoroughbreds, said Desert Blanc seemed fine after the June 9 race but swelling was detected after three days of galloping. He said the colt has a 20% tear of his left front superflexor tendon.

"We'll find a home for him for a stud career, although we were looking forward to running him the rest of the year," Bradley told New York Racing Association officials. "[The Manhattan] was a very exciting race, and he showed how game and tough he was. It's the biggest hurt to lose a horse like this to an injury."

Desert Blanc retires with four wins, a second, and a third in seven races and earnings of $428,133.

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