Correas Retiring To Argentina After Successful U.S. Training Career

[Wandering Eyes]

Ignacio Correas IV, a multiple-generational horseman who grew up in his native Argentina and found success at North American racetracks as a trainer, is set to retire from the game by Dec. 1, according to a Friday article by Marcus Hersh of the Daily Racing Form.

According to Equibase, Correas collected 297 wins and more than $20 million in purses during a U.S. career that began in 2010. Correas won 23 graded stakes, including consecutive top level scores in 2019 when stable star Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) took the GI Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland and the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.

Hersh's piece says that Correas began his career after a year at an Argentine jockey school. Through family connections, he moved to France where he worked first in the yard of legendary trainer Alec Head, then had an extended stay with trainer David Smaga.

When Correas left Smaga's yard he told the TDN in an interview, “He [Smaga] said, 'I don't know if you learned something about horses, but you learned how to work–and you're going to do good wherever you go.' And he gave me a hug and started crying. And I thought that he hated me!”

Arriving in the U.S. in 2001, 'Nacho' (his nickname) worked in New York for trainer Bill Badgett and was later an assistant in California to Bill Curran, which according to an article in the TDN by Chris McGrath, was described by Correas as “very tough.”

Out on his own by 2010, Correas's connections to Argentinian runners served him well as he brought stateside future GISW Didia (Arg) (Orpen), MGSW Dona Bruja (Arg) (Storm Embrujado {Arg}) and MGSW Kasaqui (Arg) (Lasting Approval).

Correas told DRF that he hopes to send his stock to his friend, trainer Horacio De Paz. The native Argentinian owns a farm in his home country with his brothers, but he said he plans to live in Buenos Aires where intends to do some bloodstock work and could become a racing manager.

The post Correas Retiring To Argentina After Successful U.S. Training Career appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article