By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 22, 2020) — Sharon Alesia, Bran Jam Stable, and Ciaglia Racing’s Ashleyluvssugar was retired from racing March 22, according to his trainer, Peter Eurton.
The 9-year-old California-bred gelded son of Game Plan raced 38 times over a span of eight years, primarily in California, winning 10 starts and placing in 12 others to earn $1,488,083. Ashleyluvssugar’s most recent win was in the 2017 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park. He also won that race in 2015 and took the 2015 San Luis Rey Stakes (G2T), as well as the Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T) and John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) in 2016. He placed fifth in that year’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T).
Bred in California by the partners who raced him, he is out of the Urgent Request mare Ashley’s Folly, who produced five other winners, including stakes-placed Ashley’s Sassy.
In his most recent effort, he placed sixth in the March 21 San Luis Rey, which was downgraded to a grade 3 for 2020. He also contested the race in 2017 and 2019.
“Ashleyluvssugar is officially retired,” Eurton said on Twitter. “For me, I’ll miss his enormous personality—playful still at 9, his tenacity and the way he looks at you with those big eyes. He can’t be replaced, but I know he’ll have a lot of fun in retirement hanging with our fellow OTTB Betty’s Bambino.”
Ashleyluvssugar kicked off his career at 2 with a win by DQ in his debut and followed with a third-place finish in the I’m Smokin Stakes, both on synthetic. Throughout his 3-year-old season, he raced only at the allowance optional claiming level and had his graded stakes debut the following year in the San Luis Rey. His only race outside California was the 2015 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park in which he finished sixth.