By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 7, 2024) — Millionaire Harris Farms California-bred Closing Remarks is retiring following a sixth-place finish March 3 in the Buena Vista Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park.
“She’s 100% healthy and sound,” said trainer Carla Gaines. “I think she’s thinking of other things, kind of over this racing thing.”
The 6-year-old daughter of Vronsky was coming off a career-best year in 2023, winning four grade 2 races. Her most recent win came in the Goldikova Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Nov. 5. In addition to her graded wins, she placed in seven other graded stakes throughout her career, including a second-place finish in the 2021 Del Mar Oaks (G1T). Closing Remarks was known for her closing kick and consistency.
Every race she was just phenomenal,” Gaines said. “She ran so hard for all those races. Every race was more exciting than the last.”
Ending the year with a sixth, beaten only two lengths, in Del Mar‘s Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 3, Gaines gave the mare a freshening. Although she was training well, she disappointed while returning in the Megahertz Stakes (G3T) Feb. 3.
Forced to close into what Gaines described as a “ridiculously slow pace” over a course that was slow from rain, the mare didn’t make up much ground before settling for sixth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.
Since the race didn’t set up the way Gaines had hoped, and given her strong gallop out, Gaines gave Closing Remarks another shot in the Buena Vista. The pace was better this time, but Gaines didn’t see the same drive she was used to as Closing Remarks lost by five lengths.
Exiting the race well, Gaines figured it was time for Closing Remarks to move to her next career.
“The morning after, her feed tub was clean,” Gaines said. “She was jumping and playing. I think she’s just thinking maybe it’s time to be a mom.”
Raced between Santa Anita and Del Mar for all but one of her 27 starts, the California-bred won seven times with five seconds and four thirds for earnings of $1,000,820.
“She’s just a strong, willful filly,” Gaines said. “Easy horse to train. She was a gift. She did everything all on her own, all I had to do was take care of her.”
Closing Remarks left Santa Anita March 6 and went to Harris Farms, her owner and breeder. Gaines said John Harris is looking for which stallion in Kentucky he plans to send her to.