McCann’s Mojave, the multiple-stakes-winning California-bred, has been retired to stud after recent tests revealed damage to a tendon, owner Mike Willman said.

McCann’s Mojave was scratched from the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 24 because of concern over a tendon. Additional tests on Friday revealed that the tendon had not improved, Willman said.

“The risk of injury was there,” Willman said. “He’s taken us on the ride of a lifetime and we had to do right by the horse.

“He’s been a miraculous horse for us. It’s a sad, sad day. It hurts a lot because of how well he was doing going into that race.”

Bred by Willman and Nikki Hunt, McCann’s Mojave, 8, won 12 of 35 starts and $1,513,565. His biggest win was a 33-1 upset in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park in 2007.

McCann’s Mojave later won two Grade 3 stakes at Golden Gate Fields - the All American Stakes last November and the Berkeley Stakes in May of this year. In his final start, he finished fourth in the Hollywood Gold Cup on June 28.

Willman said that McCann’s Mojave will stand at stud at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif.
(Source: NTRA)