The Daily Racing Form’s Jay Privman reports, Indian Blessing, a two-time champion, was retired on Thursday morning, trainer Bob Baffert said.

     Indian Blessing worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds on Thursday at Santa Anita, but Baffert said he had no race in mind for her at the time. Instead, he wanted to give exercise rider Simon Harris, who worked Indian Blessing when she was stabled in New York, one last chance to, as Baffert said, “take her for a spin.” Harris is in town for the Breeders’ Cup.

     “There’s nowhere else to run her,” said Baffert, who kept Indian Blessing out of this year’s Breeders’ Cup because he believes she is not as effective on a synthetic surface. Baffert said no decision had been made as to whom Indian Blessing would be bred next spring.

    “It’s hard to let go. She’s so great,” Baffert said.

    Indian Blessing, 4, owned by Hal and Patti Earnhardt, won 10 of 16 starts and $2,995,420 over three seasons. She was the champion 2-year-old filly of 2007, when she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Monmouth Park, and was the champion female sprinter of 2008.

PEPPERS PRIDE LOSSES TIZNOW FOAL

     Mary Rampellini (DRF) reports, Peppers Pride has lost the Tiznow foal she was carrying, her breeder and co-owner Joe Allen said on Thursday. It was to be the first foal for the history-making mare, who retired undefeated in 19 starts in January. Allen said the foal had been due in late February or early March. He said Peppers Pride will probably be bred back to Tiznow next season. She is based in Kentucky.

    Allen said Peppers Pride lost her foal about 10 days ago.

    “We had her checked not too long ago and everything was fine,” Allen said. “We had the foal checked and it had no problems. It’s just one of those things. There’s no rhyme or reason.

      “I was headed to my doctor for my annual stress test when they called me. It was just kind of a sickening feeling. I’ve been in this long enough. Stuff happens.”

     Peppers Pride raced throughout her career for Allen, who last month sold a half-interest in her to Michael Stinson. Allen and Stinson each then gave a 5 percent interest in the mare to Joel Marr, her longtime trainer. Stinson also bought half-interest in nine horses Allen currently has racing, and the new partnership will be represented with several starters on the $2 million New Mexico Cup card at Zia Park on Sunday.

     Zia has named a $170,000 stakes on the program for Peppers Pride, a New Mexico-bred who holds the longest winning streak in modern North American history. She is a 6-year-old daughter of Desert God and retired with earnings of $1,066,085.

CHOCOLATE CANDY DRILLS IN 1:00 2/5 FOR BREEDERS’ CUP

     Chocolate Candy, who will try to give trainer Jerry Hollendorfer an upset victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, worked five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 handily Wednesday morning at Santa Anita.

     The Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will be held Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.  Golden Gate Fields will simulcast all the action both days.

     The Dirt Mile, which will be run on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride synthetic racing surface, attracted a field of 10.  Chocolate Candy is the sixth choice on the morning line at odds of 15-to-1.

     Hollendorfer and Dan Ward, his assistant trainer in Southern California, were both pleased with Chocolate Candy’s work.

     “He started off a little slow, like he was supposed to, and then finished very strong,” said Hollendorfer.

     “He sure looks like he’s ready to run his best race ever,” said Ward. “I don’t know exactly where that puts him with the rest of the field, but it’s the best we can do.”

     Jockey Joel Rosario put Chocolate Candy through his workout and he’ll be aboard the 3-year-old colt in the Dirt Mile.

      Breeders’ Cup action will begin Friday for Hollendorfer, who will saddle 3-to-1 morning-line favorite Blind Luck in the $2 million Grey Goose Juvenile Fillies.  Tyler Baze will ride Blind Luck, who is coming off a victory in the Grade 1 Oak Leaf Stakes.

     Golden Gate Fields has scheduled early gate openings and special post times Friday and Saturday to accommodate the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup races.

     Friday, grandstand and club house gates will open at 9 a.m.; the Turf Club at 10 a.m.  Post time at Santa Anita is 11:15 a.m. and the first Breeders’ Cup race will be run at 12:35 p.m.  Golden Gate Fields will present its first race at 12:10 p.m.

     Saturday, all gates open at 9 a.m.  The first race at Santa Anita will be run at
10:05 a.m., and the first Breeders’ Cup race at 10:45 a.m.  First post at Golden Gate Fields is 10:25 a.m.