Juvenile champion Midshipman retired

Midshipman was a convincing winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita (Benoit Photos) MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled's Song), the champion two-year-old male of 2008, has been retired from racing and will stand his first season at Darley Jonabell near Lexington, Kentucky, in 2011. "Midshipman defeated the best of his generation while proving himself on both dirt and synthetic surfaces," said Oliver Tait, Darley's Chief Operating Officer. "We couldn't be more excited to have a champion two-year-old with his kind of looks and pedigree joining our roster in 2011." Midshipman was voted the Eclipse Award following an outstanding season which saw him capture the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), defeating Mine That Bird (Birdstone) and Pioneerof the Nile, who finished first and second, respectively, in the following year's Kentucky Derby (G1). That year he also landed the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and was narrowly beaten in the Norfolk S. (G1).

At three, he recorded a solid victory on the Belmont dirt against allowance

foes before heading to Santa Anita, where he came agonizingly close to winning

the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He was beaten less than a length when third in

a blanket finish.

Midshipman, who won his final start at Meydan on February 25, retires with a

mark of 8-5-1-1, $1,584,600.

Bred in Kentucky by Stonerside Stable, Midshipman was acquired from that

outfit by Darley in the days prior to the Del Mar Futurity. He was trained

during his championship campaign by Bob Baffert, then was switched to the

shedrow of Saeed bin Suroor.

Out of the multiple Grade 2-winning Fleet Lady (Avenue of Flags), Midshipman

counts 2003 Cotillion H. (G2) victress Fast Cookie (Deputy Minister) as a

half-sibling as well as a yearling filly by Empire Maker. He also has a weanling

full brother. This is the female family of 2008 Sunshine Millions Turf winner

and multiple Grade 1-placed War Monger (War Chant).

"We look forward to showing Midshipman and fellow new recruit for 2011,

Desert Party, to breeders during Keeneland September and in the months to come,"

Tait added.

His fee will be announced at a later date.