Daaher retired to stud

Daaher reached the peak of his powers during the autumn of his three-year-old campaign (Ross Woodson/Horsephotos.com)

Shadwell Farm's DAAHER (Awesome Again), front-running winner of the Cigar

Mile H. (G1) last fall at Aqueduct, has been retired and will enter stud this

year at his owner's Nashwan Stud in Lexington, Kentucky, it was announced on

Friday. Rick Nichols, vice president and general manager of Shadwell Farm, said

that a decision on Daaher's retirement was made after a scintigraphy of the

colt's right front ankle revealed torn and injured ligaments.

"We are sad to see Daaher's racing career cut short, but his career at stud

has a tremendous upside," Nichols said.

The four-year-old will stand for $30,000, live foal.

Bred in Ontario by Yvonne and Dagmer Schwabe, Daaher is out of the multiple

stakes-winning Irish Cherry (Irish Open), who has also produced the multiple

Grade 1-winning mare Spun Sugar, a full sister to Daaher. Purchased by Shadwell Stable for $375,000 at

the 2005 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Daaher did not make his debut until

April of his three-year-old season, eventually winning his maiden in his second

start at Belmont last May. Daaher, who made all but one of his starts for trainer Kiaran

McLaughlin, was next pointed toward the Canadian classics, finishing fourth in

the Queen's Plate at Woodbine and third in the Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie.

Returning to the United States for his next start, Daaher turned in an

eye-catching 13 3/4-length win in allowance/optional claiming company at Saratoga in his first start with

blinkers. Daaher parlayed his newfound success with a victory over fellow

three-year-olds in the one-mile Jerome H. (G2) in his next start. Bypassing the

inaugural Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Monmouth Park, Daaher was pointed instead

to the Cigar Mile, where he faced Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner and eventual

Eclipse Award winner Midnight Lute (Real Quiet). Taking command from the outset, Daaher

turned back a challenge by Midnight Lute in the stretch to post a 2 1/2-length

win, covering a mile in 1:33 3/5.