Birdstone has been retired. The three year old came out of Saturday’s Breeders Cup Classic with a chip in his left front ankle.

The colt, who won the Champagne Stakes at two, became the only horse to beat Smarty Jones. He handed the then undefeated colt a length beating in the Belmont Stakes.

He won his three year old debut before unplaced runs in the Spiral Stakes and Kentucky Derby. Following his Belmont win-which saw him booed by fans- he came back to win the Travers Stakes over The Cliff’s Edge.

He won five of nine starts for trainer Nick Zito and owner Mary-Lou Whitney.

A son of Grindstone he is a half brother to champion filly Birdstown. No stud plans have been finalized but he is expected to stand in North America.