Peaks and Valleys dies at 20

Peaks and Valleys, Canada's Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old

colt of 1995, has died at the age of 20. The Grade 1-winning millionaire and

sire, who had been standing at Gardiner Farms in Ontario since 2006, succumbed

to the infirmities of his age.

A homebred campaigned by Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stable, Peaks and

Valleys was bred on the potent Blushing Groom/Nijinsky II cross. The son of Mt.

Livermore was produced by the winning Green Dancer mare Strike a Balance.

His half-sister, multiple stakes heroine and Grade 2-placed Alternate, has

been in the news as the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Alternation, who has

captured this season's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, Grade 3 Pimlico Special, Grade

3 Razorback Handicap and Essex Handicap.

Peaks and Valleys won his first three starts as a juvenile for trainer Jim

Day, including a six-length romp in the Cradle over Tejano Run. He concluded

1994 with a third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

After a sharp second to Mr. Greeley in the Grade 3 Lafayette in his sophomore

debut, Peaks and Valleys rallied in time to take the Grade 3 Derby Trial and

drove to a two-length decision in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby, defeating Da Hoss.

He did not reappear until August, when warming up for bigger engagements with a

seven-furlong optional claiming score. He came up a neck shy against lone speed

Kiridashi next out in the Col. R.S. McLaughlin, but that effort had him primed

for their Grade 1 rematch two weeks later.

Peaks and Valleys was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the Molson Export

Million, and duly obliged with a convincing 2 1/2-length victory. Queen's Plate

hero Regal Discovery had to settle for second; Mt. Sassafras, a future Canadian

Horse of the Year, was third; and Petionville was fourth. Kiridashi tired to

fifth after arguing the pace.

Peaks and Valleys further boosted his Sovereign Award credentials in the

Grade 1 Meadowlands Cup Handicap, where he drew off to another 2 1/2-length

score. His beaten rivals included Concern and L'Carriere. Although Peaks and

Valleys ended the year with a sixth behind Hall of Famer Cigar and L'Carriere in

the Breeders' Cup Classic, he had done enough to earn the Canadian Horse of the

Year and divisional titles.

Transferred to Bill Mott for his 1996 campaign, Peaks and Valleys rolled by

four lengths in a Belmont Park allowance in his return to action. Third to

Mahogany Hall and Serena's Song in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap, he was

runner-up to old foe L'Carriere in the Grade 3 Saratoga Cup Handicap. He failed

to fire when sixth in the Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap, and was then retired with

a record of 16-9-3-2, $1,589,270.

"The success Mrs. Abercrombie enjoyed with Peaks and Valleys was a turning

point for our program," Pin Oak General Manager Clifford Barry said. "He let all

of us know what it was like to participate in racing at the very highest level."

Entering stud at Pin Oak near Versailles, Kentucky, Peaks and Valleys sired

such major performers as Grade 2-winning millionaire Dollar Bill, whose five

Grade 1 placings include the Travers, Blue Grass and Stephen Foster Handicap;

Chamrousse, queen of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and runner-up in the Grade 1

Mother Goose; Grade 2 Mazarine victress Higher World; multiple Grade 3 scorer

Happy Trails; and Grade 3 vixen Meribel.

Daughters of Peaks and Valleys have produced the likes of Rose Catherine,

Warren's Jitterbug and Valli with a Vow.

Peaks and Valleys stood the 2012 season for a fee of C$4,000.

"We would like to thank the entire staff at Gardiner Farm, especially the

late Dr. Mike Colterjohn and his assistant Sherry McLean, for the tremendous

care they gave Peaks and Valleys over the years," Barry said.

Peaks and Valleys will be returned to his birthplace and buried at Pin Oak

Stud.