Commanding Curve Retired

West Point Thoroughbreds' Commanding Curve (Master Command–Mother, by Lion Hearted) has been retired from racing and will begin retraining for a second career with Olympic level eventer Phillip Dutton.

The 5-year-old gelding finished second to dual Eclipse winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in the 2014 GI Kentucky Derby and retires sound following a ninth-place finish in an allowance race at Churchill Downs May 7. The bay has a lifetime record of 16-2-2-2 and earnings of $609,378.

“He took his partners and our team on a great ride and gave us the thrill of a lifetime when he was rollin' turning for home in the Derby,” said West Point president Terry Finley. “We haven't been able to recreate the magic of Derby day on the racetrack, and owe it to him to retire sound with the ability to move on to a second career. His partners came from coast to coast with backgrounds ranging from investment bankers to school teachers to a professional golf caddy, but for only a modest investment they all experienced the highest of racing's highs together.”

“I'm proud of him,” said trainer Dallas Stewart. “He ran the race of his life on the day it mattered most and it took a world beater in California Chrome to beat him. He's a big, strong horse with a great mind and I'm excited to see what he can do in his second career.”

Dutton, who competes Graham Motion's 2008 GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Icabad Crane (Jump Start), recently joined West Point as a partner on GISW Ring Weekend (Tapit).

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