Old Friends pensioner Kiri's Clown dead at 25

Millionaire and Grade 1 winner Kiri's Clown has died. The 25-year-old

stallion, who had been pensioned at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Facility

in Georgetown, Kentucky, since 2006, was euthanized Monday at Rood and Riddle

Equine Hospital due to complications following colic surgery. A full necropsy is

pending.

A son of Kentucky Derby winner and champion Foolish Pleasure, out of the Kris

mare Kiri, Kiri's Clown was one of Old Friends's flagship retirees. He was

donated to the farm by owners Bob and Mary Sullivan and was soon paddocked next

to his old track rival Awad. The two faced off in several editions of the Sword

Dancer Invitational, with Kiri's Clown claiming victory by a neck in 1995 when

he set a course record on the Saratoga turf.

Trained by Phil Johnson and ridden by Mike Luzzi, Jean Cruguet and others,

Kiri's Clown raced for six seasons. His wins include the Knickerbocker Handicap

at Aqueduct as well as back-to-back editions of the New Hampshire Sweepstakes at

Rockingham Park in 1994-95, where he set a course record each time.

In 62 starts the dark bay had 16 wins and careers earnings of $1,005,469.

Kiri's Clown stood stud for nine seasons at various farms in Kentucky before

retiring from the breeding shed in 2006. His daughter, Foolish Gal, produced

Grade 1 winner Get Stormy.

"I like all of our retirees, but there are a handful that I love. I loved

Kiri," said Old Friends founder Michael Blowen. "I'll never forget the day he

set the track record in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga in 1995 where I couldn't

get a seat.

"He was very intelligent and had the good fortune to be bred, raced, owned

and retired by Mary Sullivan," Blowen added. "We appreciate Dr. Scott Hooper and

everyone at Rood and Riddle for doing their best to extend Kiri's quality of

life."

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com