Graded Winner & Multiple Grade I-Placed Pyrenees Retired

Blue Heaven Farm announced the retirement of Pyrenees, winner of the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes and runner-up in both the GI Stephen Foster Stakes and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup in 2024.

Adam Corndorf, who bred and raced the horse in partnership with his mother Bonnie Baskin under their Blue Heaven Farm banner, confirmed the decision to end the 5-year-old’s racing career.

The homebred son of Into Mischief out of Grade III winner Our Khrysty broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths following a one-year absence at Fair Grounds in December 2023. He quickly established himself as a rising star in the handicap division with open-length victories in allowance company at Fair Grounds and Keeneland in spring 2024.

Pyrenees delivered his signature performance on Preakness weekend, charging home to capture the Pimlico Special while defeating ‘TDN Rising Star’ Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo). He subsequently finished second to Kingsbarns in the Foster and was beaten four lengths into second behind Highland Falls (Curlin) in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before competing in a competitive renewal of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

He retires with a record of 4-3-1 from 11 starts and earnings of $786,316 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.

Beyond his racetrack achievements, Pyrenees hails from an exceptionally productive female family. His half-sister Grace Adler (Curlin) won the 2021 GI Del Mar Debutante and was sold to Japanese interests for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2022. Grace Adler’s first foal, a colt by Horse of the Year Flightline, commanded $1.3 million at the JRHA Select Sale last July.

Pyrenees’ dam Our Khrysty was purchased by Blue Heaven for $600,000 in foal to Tiznow at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. She is a half-sister to GI Whitney Handicap winner Bullsbay (Tiznow).

The retiring stallion is also related to the Grade II-placed Virginia Key (Distorted Humor), dam of stakes-placed Distorted d’Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) and Tappan Street (Into Mischief), who defeated subsequent GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in this year’s GI Curlin Florida Derby.

A Curlin half-brother to Tappan Street sold for $1.4 million at Keeneland September last fall, while the current 2-year-old half-sister to Pyrenees, Glory Me (Gun Runner), was purchased by Lael Stable for $975,000 at KEESEP. Another half-sister, Bay Harbor (Speightstown), produced stakes winner Miuccia (Mitole) in 2024.

Pyrenees is currently available for inspection at Blue Heaven Farm in Versailles, Kentucky for those interested in standing him at stud. Inquiries may be directed to Adam Corndorf at info@blueheavenfarmky.com.