Afternoon Deelites, a multiple Grade 1 winner and oldest resident of Old Friends, euthanized at 31
Multiple Grade 1 winner Afternoon Deelites was euthanized on Feb. 14 at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., due to complications from colic.
At 31, Afternoon Deelites was the oldest resident at Old Friends. His death came less than a week after that of his owner-breeder Burt Bacharach, who died Feb. 8 at age 94.
Afternoon Deelites, by Private Terms, was bred in West Virginia by Bacharach's Blue Seas Music, and raced in the music icon’s colors under the care of trainer Richard Mandella. The millionaire won seven of his 12 starts and missed the board only twice.
He emerged as a standout by winning his first five starts, including the Grade 3 Hollywood Prevue, Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity, Grade 2 San Vicente, and Grade 2 San Felipe, before finishing second by a head to Larry the Legend in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He was eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
Afternoon Deelites returned late in the year to win the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. As a 4-year-old, he won the Grade 2 Commonwealth, and was second in the Grade 1 Strub and Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap.
Afternoon Deelites entered stud in 1997 at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky and later moved to Clear Creek Stud in Louisiana. His 26 stakes winners were led by Grade 2 winners Deeliteful Irving, Miss Pickums and Zappa, and Grade 3 winners Lovely Afternoon, No Tolerance, and Three Hour Nap. He was pensioned in 2011 and resided at Old Friends for more than a decade.
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