Azeri, who was horse of the year in 2002 and one of the top females in thoroughbred racing history, was retired from competition and will be sent to Kentucky to be bred.
The 6-year-old daughter of Jade Hunter won three Grade I races this year, raising her career total to 11. She finished fifth in her final race -- the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 30 when she competed against males.
Owner Michael Paulson said in a news release, issued late Thursday, that the decision to retire Azeri was made in consultation with trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
"Champion horses like Azeri are what every owner and breeder of these magnificent animals strives for, and I have been very blessed and fortunate to have campaigned this exceptional horse," Paulson said. "I am very excited about her prospects as a broodmare, and look forward to the opportunity of seeing her foals with their mother's champion qualities."
Azeri will be moved from Lukas's barn at Santa Anita sometime next week. It was not immediately clear where she will board in Kentucky.
Before this year, Azeri was trained by Laurade Seroux and moved to Lukas's barn after Paulson disagreed with De Seroux's recommendation that the mare be retired because of a tendon injury.
After winning her only two races as a 3-year-old, Azeri had seven straight graded stakes victories in 2002, capping her streak by winning the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Arlington Park. She ends her career with 17 wins and four second-place finishes in 24 lifetime starts and earnings of $4,079,820.
-- From News Services
