By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2024) — California-bred Slow Down Andy , winner of the 2023 Awesome Again Stakes (G1), has been retired, trainer Doug O’Neill said Feb. 22.
O’Neill conditioned the 5-year-old Nyquist homebred on behalf of longtime client Reddam Racing.
Slow Down Andy had not raced since winning the Awesome Again. He recorded five workouts in 2024, but exited his most recent work at Santa Anita Park with a non-displaced sesamoid fracture, according to O’Neill.
“He was a dream to train—a class act who gave us 100% every morning,” O’Neill said. “We’re disappointed, but we’re proud of him. He was a super competitive, classy horse.”
Slow Down Andy retired with five wins from 14 starts and earnings of $1,276,600. He won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at age 2, the Sunland Park Derby (G3) and Del Mar Derby (G2T) at age 3, and the Awesome Again at 4.
“He was our Kentucky Derby horse prior to him getting sick,” O’Neill said. “He won graded stakes at age 2, 3, and 4—all two turns, and he won on turf and dirt.”
The connections hope Slow Down Andy can begin a stud career this year despite missing the start of breeding season.
“There’s nothing on the table yet, but we’re hoping there’s options and he can breed some mares this year,” O’Neill said. “If I had a mare, I’d breed to him.”
A Reddam homebred, Slow Down Andy is out of Edwina E , by Square Eddie . His full brother Team Merchants was a multiple stakes winner for O’Neill and Reddam.