Jaycito is Crying Out to be Retired

Jaycito is Crying Out to be Retired: There is a time to race a horse and a time to retire a horse. Once a horse becomes a graded stakes winner, usually, we hold them in the highest regard. If that horse ever should drop to the lowest level of competition, it is likely a sign that the horse no longer wants to compete.

Back in 2010, there was a colt, named Jaycito, who won a grade one event in the Norfolk Stakes, which would also be his maiden score. Here, he beat J P’s Gusto. Next out, he would fail to hit the board in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which was won by the undefeated Uncle Mo.

Coming back as a three-year-old in 2011, he finished second in the San Felipe Stakes, behind Premier Pegasus. He did, however beat horses likes Comma To The Top, Awesome Patriot, and Albergatti. He would miss most of his three-year-old year, only to come back in August in an Allowance Optional Claimer to finish off the board in 5th.

As a four-year-old, Jaycito would debut in the G2 Strub Stakes. He finished a clear second behind Ultimate Eagle, but was the best of the rest in a field that contained Tapizar, Prayer for Relief, and Clubhouse Ride. This season, Jaycito would make seven starts, including the G1 Pacific Classic and the G1 Breeders’ Cup Marathon. He would finish 7th and 11th in these races. He was, however, able to win two Allowance races, defeating Blueskiesandrainbows in his last start as a four-year-old.

Coming back again at age five, Jaycito failed to hit the board in six starts. His best finish was a fourth place finish in an Allowance Optional Claimer at Sunland Park. He would compete in the G2 San Pasqual and the G3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes, but finished 6th and 8th in those starts.

This year, at age six, Jaycito has remained healthy, but has dropped to consistently running in Allowance Optional Claiming races. He has made ten starts this year, only winning two of those ten starts. His last win was in the Curribot Handicap at Sunland Park in February. His latest race was on the 11th of this month at Zia Park, where was running for a $25,000 tag, which he was claimed in. The race before that, he was claimed for $30,000.

Once upon a time, Jaycito was a promising two-year-old, who broke his maiden in a grade one race. Now, Jaycito is running in the claiming ranks, hoping someone will retire him. It is apparent that the six-year-old, intact son of Victory Gallop does not want to race anymore.

Retiring Jaycito before he breaks down, or worse, is something that needs to be done. When a graded stakes winner is running for low prices in the claiming ranks, it’s time for him to find a new job.

With Jaycito being an intact stallion, he could possibly be retired to stud. Unlikely as that may sound, he has the pedigree to nick with multiple sire lines. Another option would be to geld to son of Victory Gallop, and sent him to a retirement home, such as New Vocations, Canter, or Friends of Ferdinand. Here, Jaycito would be retired, retrained, rehabilitated, and rehomed. There are so many options for this young thoroughbred. Jaycito could be the next champion hunter/jumper so some young girl out there. There is so much these horses can do. Racing isn’t his only options.