Breeders' Cup Turf winner Prized dies at 28

Prized, winner of the 1989 Breeders' Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park, was

euthanized on Sunday at Old Friends Retirement Home in Georgetown, Kentucky, due

to infirmities of old age. The 28-year-old stallion had been receiving care from

Dr. Bryan Waldridge because of deteriorating mobility.

Bred by Meadowbrook Farm in Florida, the son of Kris S. was raced by

Meadowbrook and Clover Racing Stable and trained by Neil Drysdale. As a

three-year-old in 1989, Prized won the Bradbury at Santa Anita in March and two

months later upset that season's Horse of the Year, dual classic winner Sunday

Silence, in the Swaps at Hollywood Park.

In September, Prized took the Molson Export Million, a C$1 million event at

Woodbine, but after running a distant fourth behind Easy Goer in the Jockey Club

Gold Cup, was pointed to the Breeders' Cup Turf rather than the Breeders' Cup

Classic despite not having run on the turf previously. In that $2 million event,

Prized prevailed by a neck over the French filly Sierra Roberta under regular

rider Eddie Delahoussaye.

Prized continued his turf success as a four-year-old, taking the 1990 Arcadia

Handicap and San Luis Rey, both at Santa Anita. He was retired in 1991 with a

record of 17-9-2-3, $2,262,555.

From 1992 through 2010, Prized stood in California, Kentucky, New Zealand,

and West Virginia. From 811 foals he sired 617 starters, 443 winners and 36

black type winners, including Grade/Group 1 winners Brass Hat, Prized Gem and

Prize Lady, for $31,351,805 progeny earnings. Though his daughter Fun House,

Prized is the broodmare sire of Grade 1 winner Paddy O'Prado and this year's

leading three-year-old filly Untapable.

"We brought Prized up every afternoon from his paddock for a cool shower,

extra carrots and the adulation of his fans," said Michael Blowen of Old

Friends. "He loved it. It's always very, very sad when we lose a retiree,

especially one as accomplished and adored as Prized. I know his owners felt

privileged accepting his Breeders Cup trophy but we felt the same way being

honored as his caretakers these past few years. It's something that can never be

measured by statistics or money."