Pioneerof the Nile retired due to leg injury

Pioneerof the Nile's final win came in the Santa Anita Derby (Benoit Photo)

Zayat Stables' homebred and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up

PIONEEROF

THE NILE (Empire Maker), winner of the Santa Anita Derby (G1), CashCall

Futurity (G1), San Felipe S. (G2) and Robert B. Lewis S. (G2) over the synthetic

tracks in Southern California, has been retired after suffering a soft tissue

injury to his left front leg. The Bob Baffert-conditioned colt had been training

at Santa Anita toward an expected start in the July 18 Swaps S. (G2) at

Hollywood Park.

"We noticed a little filling in his leg," Baffert said. "We were hoping he

just rapped it. I'm in shock."

Trained on the East Coast last season by Bill Mott, the Kentucky-bred broke

his maiden over the turf at Saratoga and recorded a third in the Breeders'

Futurity (G1) on the Polytrack at Keeneland. Following a fast-finishing fifth in

the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Pioneerof the Nile was transferred to Baffert

and embarked on a four-race, stakes-winning streak when capturing the CashCall

Futurity at Hollywood Park in late December.

He opened his three-year-old campaign in style, registering victories in the

Bob Lewis, San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby over the Pro-Ride at Santa Anita,

and jockey Garrett Gomez elected to ride the talented dark bay in the Kentucky

Derby over Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Dunkirk (Unbridled's Song). Sent off the

6-1 third choice among 19 rivals, Pioneerof the Nile was prominent throughout

and seized a brief lead between calls at the top of the stretch before being

passed by eventual winner Mine That Bird (Birdstone). He concluded his racing

career with an 11th in the Preakness S. (G1).