Belmont winner Sarava euthanized at age 24
?q=100)
Sarava, the upset winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes, died on Monday at Old Friends Equine Retirement in Georgetown, Ky., the farm announced.
The 24-year-old Wild Again horse was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture.
Sarava began his career in England before coming to the U.S. in the fall of 2001 as a 2-year-old. Despite two wins - including the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico by four lengths - and three seconds in his first five U.S. starts for trainer Ken McPeek, Sarava was sent off as the second-longest shot in a field of 11 for the Belmont Stakes, in which War Emblem was bidding to win the Triple Crown.
Sarava, under Edgar Prado, drove to the lead between horses, then held Medaglia d'Oro at bay for a half-length victory. He returned $142.50 for the win, making him the longest shot to ever win the Belmont. War Emblem, who later became an Old Friends resident himself, finished eighth after stumbling at the start.
Sarava didn’t race for 13 months after the Belmont and went winless in his remaining eight career starts for trainer Bob Baffert. He retired with a record of 17-3-3-0 and earnings of $773,832.
Sarava began his stud career in 2005 at Cloverleaf Farms in Florida, then stood two years at Cloverleaf's property in Kentucky. In 2008, he was sent to Bridlewood Farm in Florida for the remainder of his stud career. His 83 career winners were led by Grade 2 winner Gladding.
Sarava was donated to Old Friends in the fall of 2012 by co-owners Gary Drake of Louisville and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain. At that time, he was the first classic winner to reside at Old Friends.
“It's a sad day for our family and friends,” Drake said. “We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001.
“When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliche, but people say it all the time, they take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us.”
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.