Graded Stakes Winner Buchu Retired

Multiple graded stakes winner Buchu has been retired and will begin her new journey as a broodmare for Rigney Racing. Conrad Bandoroff of Denali Stud made the announcement Jan. 30 on the social media platform X, writing: "Full circle moment as Rigney Racing homebred Buchu returns home to Denali Stud." Bandoroff wrote that the 4-year-old daughter of Justify will be bred to Taylor Made stallion Not This Time. Trained by Phil Bauer, Buchu broke her maiden in convincing fashion in her fourth start as a 2-year-old at Churchill Downs before making her stakes debut in the 2023 Jessamine Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland. Rolling from the back of the pack, the filly unleashed a devastating turn of foot down the stretch to capture the Breeders' Cup qualifying race by a widening 3 3/4 lengths. Buchu capped her season with a sixth-place effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Buchu opened her 3-year-old campaign with another late-rallying victory at Keeneland in the $386,888 Appalachian Stakes (G2T) in April 2024. She would race seven more times, highlighted by a runner-up performance in the Regret Stakes (G3T) and a fourth-place finish in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T). She retired with earnings of $642,270. Bred by Rigney Racing in Kentucky, Buchu is the only foal to race out of the Galileo mare Flowering Peach (IRE).