By Bill Finley
Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief–Wonder Gal, Tiz Wonderful), the 2022 champion 2-year-old filly, has been retired after finishing eighth in the July 1 GIII Selene S. at Woodbine, reports Jon Green, the general manager of the owner, D.J. Stables. She will be sold this fall at the Fasig-Tipton November sale.
After clinching an Eclipse Award with her win in the 2022 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Wonder Wheel struggled this year, going 0-for-4. In the Selene, she was beaten 21 3/4 lengths.
“Wonder Wheel has been battling a couple of minor issues since her 2-year-old year,” Green said. “She had bone bruising and a minor ankle injury. We gave her some time off and did a little procedure on her ankle to take care of a flake. Unfortunately, because she is a 17-hand beast, she continued to have some bone bruising and the same ankle has been an issue. This week, we decided that because she would need some time before we could run her again that we'd pull the plug on her racing career. She's been so valuable to us as a race horse. She's a champion and a two-time Grade I winner. She's too valuable a horse to continue to run her when she's not 100 percent.”
Wonder Wheel was acquired for $275,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale and turned over to trainer Mark Casse. She won her first two starts before finishing second in the GI Spinaway S. She returned with a win in the GI Alcibiades S. before her three-length win in the Juvenile Fillies.
“Normally, when you campaign a horse of Wonder Wheel's caliber you're always looking at what will be their next race,” Green said. “You are constantly looking forward. With her, I actually had the opportunity to enjoy watching her run and not worrying about what's next. It really was a thrill, especially the first five races of her career. It was nothing like I had felt before and we have campaigned other Grade I winners and champions like Jaywalk.”
Green said that Wonder Wheel was always a favorite because she was named by his mother Lois. Lois Green passed away in May at the age of 84.
“The reason why Wonder Wheel is so special to me is that my mom, who recently passed, named Wonder Wheel,” he said. “Normally, we don't get too emotional about horses and try to treat it as a business. But Wonder Wheel will always be near and dear to my heart because my mom named her.”
Wonder Wheel won four of eight career starts and earned $1,590,725.
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