Champion Shanghai Bobby retired

The star-crossed sophomore campaign for Shanghai Bobby, last season's unbeaten 2-year-old champion, came to an end with his announced retirement Sept. 29 due to an injury.

The son of Harlan's Holiday will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, the farm said in a release. According to the statement, Shanghai Bobby sustained an injury to a suspensory ligament when making a successful comeback in the Aljamin Stakes at Belmont Park Sept. 20.

A winner of all five starts as a 2-year-old including the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juevnile, the Aljamin was Shanghai Bobby's first race since his fifth-place finish in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Starlight Racing and Coolmore partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, the dark bay or brown colt was sidelined for half of the season with a pelvic fracture, which caused him to miss the Triple Crown races. He had made his seasonal debut with the first loss of his career in a runner-up finish in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Jan. 26.

Starlight Racing co-managing partner Jack Wolf said: "We're disappointed as we were looking forward to him returning to top-level competition following his win in the Aljamin Stakes. This horse has taken us on a great adventure, from his undefeated 2-year-old campaign and Eclipse Award, to his successful return at 3. We are proud to have owned this special horse, and we wish him the best as he begins his new career at Ashford."

Shanghai Bobby retires with a career mark of six wins and a second in eight starts with earnings of $1,857,000.

"While it is unfortunate that Shanghai Bobby won't be at Santa Anita again this year, we are delighted that he's coming to Ashford," said Dermot Ryan, manager of Ashford Stud. "Following Lookin At Lucky, Uncle Mo , and Hansen , he is the fourth straight Eclipse Award-winning juvenile to retire here."

Shanghai Bobby, bred in Florida by Stonehaven Steadings out of the stakes-winning Orientate mare Steelin', was originally a $105,000 buy from the 2011 Keeneland September yearling sale when purchased by Frank Brothers, agent.

Coolmore bought a half interest in the colt a couple of weeks after his victory in the Foxwoods Champagne Stakes. In his next start, he gamely captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park by a head over He's Had Enough as the 6-5 favorite.

"It's very disappointing as he ran really well off the layoff and we were looking forward to going back to Santa Anita with him for the Breeders' Cup Sprint or the Dirt Mile," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He was a really great 2-year-old, undefeated in five starts over five different distances ranging from 4 ½ furlongs to 1 1/16 miles. He displayed his brilliant speed in the Hopeful and Champagne, and then showed tremendous courage to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile."

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