Dual classic winner Big Brown has been retired after sustaining an injury during a workout at Aqueduct the morning of Oct. 13.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes had worked in company with Kip Deville over the turf course, with the stablemates finishing together in final time of 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs.

Afterward, it was determined that the colt had grabbed a quarter on the inside of the right front foot. The injury and subsequent retirement means the highly anticipated showdown between the 3-year-old colt and reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will not take place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

“Big Brown has been retired,” said Michael Iavarone, co-owner of IEAH Stables. “He not only tore the bulb off his foot, but half the foot was torn off. We did everything we could to get to the Breeders’ Cup. It’s devastating. And what makes it even worse is that he worked great.”

Big Brown will enter stud at Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys farm for the 2009 breeding season.–Karen Johnson and Steve Haskin

(Originally published at BloodHorse.com.)