Graded stakes winner Fast Boat, 11th in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) at Del Mar, has been retired from racing and will be re-trained for a second career as an off-track Thoroughbred by ex-jockey Rosie Napravnik.
Napravnik is married to Fast Boat's racetrack trainer, Joe Sharp, who claimed the gelding for $40,000 for owner Brad Grady at Belmont Park in October 2018. Fast Boat then climbed the ranks, this year winning the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Stakes presented by Sysco (G2T) at Churchill Downs and the Troy Stakes presented by Horse Racing Ireland (G3T) at Saratoga Race Course. He retires with a record of 10 wins from 28 starts and earnings of $706,349.
"We wanted to stop on him so he could have a good, healthy second career," Sharp said.
Welcome to retirement @mjsharp75_joe GSW, FAST BOAT! We thank the Grady’s for being such wonderful owners and for choosing to retire Fast Boat sound after the wild ride we’ve all had watching him run since he was claimed by Joe in October 2018! 😌 Can you say #tbmakeover !!!!! pic.twitter.com/N5HCUXqFZ2
— Rosie Napravnik (@RosieNapravnik) November 30, 2021
A 6-year-old by City Zip, Fast Boat is currently enjoying some downtime with other horses at the couple's Four Ponds Farm in Simpsonville, Ky. He is among eight off-track Thoroughbreds with Napravnik from the 27 horses they have at the farm. Others are lay-ups and other types.
Napravnik tweeted videos of Fast Boat Nov. 30 and noted the Thoroughbred Makeover at the Kentucky Horse Park as a possible goal for the gelding next year. Grady still owns Fast Boat.
"He's definitely a horse I think can go on and do many different things," Napravnik said.
I’m not sure I’ve ever met a happier horse😌 We are grateful to have him here at Four Ponds Farm and we’re excited to see what he wants to do next 🐎 Right now he’s just relaxing and hanging out with his new crew after coming home from the @BreedersCup. Welcome to the herd BOAT! pic.twitter.com/JmbQMRxJCd
— Rosie Napravnik (@RosieNapravnik) November 30, 2021