Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup dies at age 31

Alphabet Soup, the upset winner of the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic, was euthanized Friday at Old Friends in Georgetown, Ky., after battling chronic kidney disease. At the time of his death, the 31-year-old son of Cozzene was the oldest living Breeders' Cup Classic winner.

Alphabet Soup, who stood for Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs in various locations, had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2015.

“It won’t be the same around here without Soup,” Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said. “Over these seven years, he was a delight to be around with his sweet nature and enormous popularity. He brought joy to everyone.

“His best friend, the donkey Gorgeous George, will miss him terribly,” Blowen added, “and so will everyone on the farm. We are so grateful to Frank Stronach and everyone at Adena Springs for giving us the privilege of retiring this fabulous champion.”

Pennsylvania-bred Alphabet Soup began to come to hand late in his 3-year-old season, finishing second in the Grade 3 Volante Handicap. In the summer of 1995, the 4-year-old broke through with victories in the Harry F. Brubaker Handicap and Grade 2 Del Mar Breeders' Cup. He finished third in the Grade 2 Goodwood Handicap and Grade 3 Clark Handicap before winning the Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap to end the year. The latter kicked off a three-race streak in graded stakes for Alphabet Soup, who won the 1996 Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap and Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap before finishing a dull 10th in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.

After a brief freshening, Alphabet Soup returned with a victory in the Grade 3 Pat O'Brien Handicap at seven furlongs before stretching back out to his preferred routes. He was second in the Del Mar Breeders' Cup and crossed the line first in the Goodwood, but was demoted to third for interference.

Alphabet Soup was sent away as a longshot in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic at Woodbine, where all eyes were on reigning Horse of the Year Cigar, attempting to send his career out in style by becoming the first horse to win the Classic twice.

Alphabet Soup, with Chris McCarron in the irons for David Hofmans, tracked the pace before commencing a long drive, finding himself battling local hero Mt. Sassafras, who had a rail-skimming run, in upper stretch. Alphabet Soup wore down that foe, then had enough left to prevail in a three-way duel to the line, holding off Preakness Stakes winner Louis Quatorze, racing between horses, by a nose, with Cigar another head back in third on the outside. Alphabet Soup returned $41.70 for the victory.

Alphabet Soup made one more start in early 1997, finishing second in the San Antonio, before retiring with a bankroll of more than $2.9 million. The gray entered stud at Adena Springs in Kentucky in 1998, and moved to Adena Springs South in Florida in 2007. In 2010, he moved north, first to Gardiner Farms in Ontario before shifting to McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in 2011. He returned to Adena Springs in Kentucky for 2014 before being pensioned to Old Friends.

Alphabet Soup sired 52 career stakes winners, including Sovereign Award champion Alpha Bettor and Phantom Light; Grade/Group 1-winning flat racers Alphabet Kisses, Egg Drop, and Our New Recruit; and Grade 1-winning steeplechaser Italian Wedding.