Macho Again, a Grade I winner and a familiar face at the Saratoga meet for the last three summers, has been retired from racing. The 5-year-old son of Macho Uno is in the process of being sold to stand at a Venezuelan farm.

The distinctive gray was campaigned throughout his career by West Point Thoroughbreds, a group designed to make ownership of high-end racehorses accessible and affordable through partnerships. Macho Again's ownership group included some Saratoga residents who spoke highly to Pink Sheet last summer about their experiences with this tough runner.

Macho Again, trained by Dallas Stewart, made his first career start at Saratoga in August 2007, finishing second, before breaking his maiden that fall at Churchill Downs. The following spring, the colt captured the Derby Trial, defeating a field that included eventual Eclipse Award winner Kodiak Kowboy; eventual Belmont winner Da'Tara; and the previous year's Hopeful winner Majestic Warrior. Off that win, Macho Again went on to the Preakness, where he finished second to that year's dominant 3-year-old, Big Brown.

Following an unplaced effort in the Belmont, it was back to Saratoga, where Macho Again won the Grade II Jim Dandy, with eventual Grade I winner Pyro second and Da'Tara back in the field. The colt did pick up one more stakes placing in 2008, finishing second in the Grade II Super Derby.

Macho Again returned to run last year as a 4-year-old and constantly acquitted himself well against the division's best. He won the Grade II New Orleans Handicap, defeating stakeswinner It's A Bird; eventual Suburban winner Dry Martini; and Richard's Kid, who has gone on to be one of the top older males in California. Two starts later, he scored his Grade I win in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. The field included multiple Grade I winner Einstein (who had a troubled trip in the Foster); graded winner and now-millionaire Arson Squad; eventual Grade I winner Bullsbay; and stakeswinner and now-millionaire Researcher.

Although he didn't pick up a win last summer at Saratoga, Macho Again ran strongly in two of the meet's biggest events for older horses. First he finished second to familiar rival Bullsbay in the Whitney. Several weeks later, in the most memorable race of the meet, Macho Again came closer than anyone to defeating eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra during her unbeaten season, coming to within a head of the champion in a thrilling edition of the Woodward Stakes.

Macho Again finished unplaced in his final four starts, most recently the Stephen Foster on June 12. He finishes his career with a record of 24-6-6-0 (including 5-1-3-0 at Saratoga) and earnings of $1,825,767.

Happy retirement to a hard-trying horse who always seemed so thoroughly enjoyed by his connections. They were an enjoyable story to follow for the past several seasons.