Genuine Risk dies at 31

Genuine Risk's standard of excellence in the Triple Crown may never again be tried, let alone equaled, by another filly (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com) GENUINE RISK (Exclusive Native), only the second filly ever to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the only ever to place in all three Triple Crown races, died Monday morning in her paddock at Newstead Farm in Upperville, Virginia. At age 31, she was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. "Genuine Risk passed away peacefully early this morning shortly after being turned out in her paddock," owners Bert and Diana Firestone said. "Genuine Risk was an amazing horse with tremendous heart that lived a life befitting a champion. We are truly blessed that she was a part of our life, and we are deeply saddened by her passing." Bred in Kentucky by Mrs. G. Watts Humphrey Jr., Genuine Risk was purchased for $32,000 at the 1978 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale in Kentucky. Out of the *Gallant Man mare Virtuous, Genuine Risk was by Exclusive Native, who at the time of her sale was in the spotlight as the sire of recent Triple Crown winner Affirmed. Little did the Firestones realize that the chestnut filly they purchased would make her own historical impact on that series two years later.

Conditioned by future Hall of Famer Leroy Jolley, Genuine Risk debuted at

Belmont Park on September 30, 1979, winning by 1 3/4 lengths under Jacinto

Vasquez, who would ride her in 12 of her 15 career starts. Genuine Risk went on

to win all four of her starts at age two, capped by a nose victory over that

season's champion two-year-old filly, Smart Angle, in the

Demoiselle S. (G2) at Aqueduct. Prior to the Demoiselle, Genuine Risk had

captured an Aqueduct allowance by more than seven lengths and the Tempted S. by

three lengths.

Genuine Risk kicked off her three-year-old campaign with a pair of overnight

victories at Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct, and then faced colts for the first

time in the Wood Memorial S. (G1). Though she suffered her first defeat in

finishing an even third behind eventual sprint champion Plugged Nickle, her 1

1/2-length loss did not deter her connections from sending to her to Churchill

Downs for the Kentucky Derby.

Coming on the heels of Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alydar and Spectacular Bid

over the three previous years, the 1980 crop of three-year-old colts clearly

lacked a standout, perhaps a major reason why the Firestones and Jolley felt

the filly would do well. In addition to Plugged Nickle, the other favorite in

that year's Derby was the gelding Rockhill Native, who was named champion

two-year-old but who had a mixed prep season culminating in a victory in the Blue

Grass S. (G1).

Not used to seeing a filly compete in the Derby (Silver Spoon who finished

fifth in 1959 had been the most recent), the crowd at Churchill Downs let

Genuine Risk go to post as the 13-1 sixth choice in a field of 13. Racing in

seventh during the early stages, the filly made a big run around the far turn to

assume command at the quarter-pole and continued to hold sway through the

stretch to register a length victory in a time of 2:02. It had been 65 years,

when Regret won the Run for the Roses in 1915, since a filly had stood in the

Derby winner's circle. Winning Colors, who died earlier this year, became the

third female Derby winner in 1988.

Genuine Risk next moved on to Baltimore for the Preakness S. (G1), a race no

filly had won since Nellie Morse turned the trick in 1924. In one of the more

controversial races ever run, Angel Cordero Jr., aboard Codex, floated Genuine

Risk extremely wide turning for home, thus slowing down the filly's momentum as

she made a serious bid for the lead. Genuine Risk failed to overcome that bit of

race-riding as Codex drew off late to a 4 3/4 length score with the filly a

clear second. Though film replays showed that little to no physical contact

between the two horses had occurred, many fans across the country were outraged

at the perceived unsportsmanlike ride by Cordero, but were even more incensed

when Pimlico stewards failed to post the inquiry sign. It was left to Vasquez to

lodge a claim of foul, which was ultimately denied. An appeal by the Firestones

of the Preakness result to the Maryland Racing Commission upheld the Pimlico

stewards' decision.

Three weeks later Genuine Risk had a rematch with Codex in the Belmont S.

(G1). Though she handed that colt a decisive defeat, it was 53-1 outsider

Temperence Hill who stole the thunder with a two-length victory over a muddy

track. Temperence Hill would go on to be named the champion colt of his

generation, and Genuine Risk ran a credible second after leading briefly in the

stretch. Neither before nor since has a filly raced and won or placed in all

three American classics, and it wasn't until 2007 that Rags to Riches ended the

dry spell of fillies winning the Belmont S., which dated back to Tanya's score

in 1905.

Genuine Risk raced only twice more in 1980. In the Maskette S. (G2), she met

her great rival for three-year-old honors, Bold 'n Determined, who had won five

Grade 1 races that year going into the Maskette, including the Kentucky Oaks,

Acorn S. and Coaching Club American Oaks. In receipt of four pounds from Bold 'n

Determined, Genuine Risk went toe-to-toe with that rival through the stretch but

fell short in the one-mile contest by a nose. Both fillies later defeated older

horses, Bold 'n Determined in the Spinster S. (G1) and Genuine Risk in the

Ruffian H. (G1), and despite the result of their one meeting, Genuine Risk's

historic run through the Triple Crown trumped Bold 'n Determined's body of work

when Eclipse Award ballots were tallied.

Genuine Risk raced just three times as a four-year-old in 1981, none of them

in stakes. She was a dominant allowance winner at Aqueduct and Saratoga over the

dirt, but was only third in her one and only appearance on grass in a Belmont

Park allowance. She retired with a career mark of 15-10-3-2 and earnings of

$646,587. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.

As famous as Genuine Risk was for her triumph in the Kentucky Derby, her

difficulties at producing offspring were, sadly, equally noteworthy. Bred at one

time to Triple Crown legend Secretariat, Genuine Risk frequently failed to get

in foal and suffered numerous miscarriages. It wasn't until 1993, at age 16,

that Genuine Risk finally became a mother, delivering a Rahy colt later named

Genuine Reward. The appearance of a healthy live foal was a national news event

at the time, and a photograph of mother and son together in a paddock at Three

Chimneys Farm became iconic. Genuine Risk's difficulties at producing never

really subsided, and her only other foal was the Chief Honcho colt Count Our

Blessing, born in 1996. Neither Genuine Reward nor Count Our Blessing ever

raced, and Genuine Risk was pensioned in 2000.

"She was a wonderful and outstanding filly; everyone fell in love with her,"

Jolley said. "She had a place in everyone's heart. Everyone involved with her

took care of her up to the end. She was special to all of us."

With her death, 1987 Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba is now the oldest living

winner of the race. The 24-year-old was last reported to be standing at stud in

Saudi Arabia.