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Grand Slam dies of heart failure Grand Slam, a multiple Grade 1 star and noted sire, died of heart failure Saturday afternoon at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky. The well-bred son of Gone West was 17 years old. "Grand Slam was a pleasure to have here, and he was very popular with breeders as he sired nearly 800 winners and has progeny earnings of over $64 million," farm manager Dermot Ryan said in a statement on the Coolmore website. "It's a sad day for the staff here who worked with him and for all the partners who were involved with the horse and who have always been fantastic to deal with." The news comes hard upon the loss of the renowned Coolmore sire Montjeu, who succumbed just this past Thursday at the firm's Irish headquarters. Bred by Overbrook Farm in Kentucky, Grand Slam was sold for $300,000 at the 1996 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas scouted the colt for Robert and Christina Baker, who would race the dark bay in partnership with David Cornstein and William Mack. Grand Slam wasted no time in rewarding their purchase. In his debut as a juvenile in July 1997, he romped by 11 lengths while equaling the track record of 1:03 for 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park. He then finished runner-up in a Saratoga allowance to future multiple Grade 1 hero Coronado's Quest. A 6 1/2-length conqueror of the Grade 1 Futurity Stakes back at Belmont, Grand Slam followed up with a determined success in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes, where he ran down a loose-on-the-lead Lil's Lad to win going away by three-quarters of a length. Grand Slam loomed as the biggest threat to undefeated Favorite Trick in that year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but he was roughed up badly on the clubhouse turn, clipping heels and sustaining an injury to the tendon in his left hind leg. Following surgery, Grand Slam was pitched onto the Triple Crown trail in the spring of 1998. He faded to last in the San Pedro, did better for third in the Grade 2 Lexington, and got back to the winner's circle in the Grade 2 Peter Pan. An attempt at the Belmont Stakes didn't pan out, however, and he tired to seventh after forcing the pace. Grand Slam placed in the Grade 2 Swaps and Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, but his stamina limitations were again exposed when fifth in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. Shortening up in trip for the Grade 2 Jerome Handicap, Grand Slam finished a solid second, and filled that same spot in his lone turf experiment in the Seattle Slew at Keeneland. He cut back to six furlongs in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and closed fast for second, edging a future champion in third-placer Kona Gold. The Breeders' Cup marked his career finale, and he retired with $971,292 in earnings from a 15-4-5-2 record. Grand Slam entered stud at Ashford, the North American arm of Coolmore, which had secured a half-interest in him for a reported $5 million. He developed into a successful sire, responsible for 69 stakes winners and a total of 135 blacktype runners. His leading progeny include Cajun Beat, who captured the 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint; Canadian champion turf male Grand Adventure; Grade 1 King's Bishop winner Visionaire, now a well-received young sire in South Africa; multiple Grade 2-winning millionaire and sire Limehouse; South American Group 1 victors Curioso Slam and Pura Classe; and Grade 2 winners Strong Hope and Ball Four. Three of his current stakes stars could be seen at Aqueduct on Saturday. His undefeated three-year-old The Lumber Guy, most recently victorious in the Miracle Wood Stakes, is aiming for the Grade 1 Wood Memorial. Grade 2 Matron Stakes heroine Millionreasonswhy, who just landed the Wide Country Stakes, is using the Grade 3 Comely as a springboard to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. Grade 3 winner Apriority, runner-up in last year's Grade 1 Carter, might bid to go one better in Saturday's renewal. Grand Slam was produced by the multiple stakes-winning El Gran Senor mare Bright Candles, who placed in such major events as the Kentucky Oaks, Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, Grade 1 Las Virgenes and Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan. She is also the dam of Grade 3-placed multiple stakes scorer Leestown, among the most notable sires in Louisiana. Bright Candles is herself a half-sister to multiple Grade 3 queen Christmas Gift, the dam of Grade 1 star Christmas Kid. Grand Slam's second dam is stakes victress Christmas Bonus, his third dam is multiple Grade 2 winner Sugar Plum Time, and his fourth dam is the stakes-winning matron Plum Cake, whose descendants include Hall of Famer Alydar. Grand Slam's fifth dam is Hall of Famer Real Delight.
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