Strong Contender retired

Strong Contender retired

Multiple Grade 2 winner STRONG CONTENDER (Maria's Mon) has been retired after

suffering a torn tendon, The Blood-Horse reports. The four-year-old

chestnut colt was set to run in Saturday's Donn H. (G1) against reigning Horse

of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes), but was withdrawn the morning of the

race once his injury came to light.

The barn staff alerted Ward to the fact that Strong Contender was sore Friday

evening. An examination Saturday morning revealed the tear, which Ward said he

thought occurred in the January 6 Hal's Hope H. (G3) and was further exacerbated

with a gate work on January 30.

Strong Contender broke his maiden at first asking in 2005 and added thirds in

the Haskell Invitational H. (G1), Blue Grass S. (G1) and Peter Pan S. (G2) to

his record the next year. He earned his first stakes score in the Dwyer S. (G2)

and posted a length victory in the Super Derby (G2) prior to running fifth in

the Hal's Hope last out while making his 2007 bow.

Strong Contender was scheduled to appear in the Santa Anita H. (G1) on March

3 after the Donn.

Stud plans have not been finalized.