Candy Stripes, sired Invasor, dies

Candy Stripes, the sire of the reigning Horse of the Year, Invasor, was euthanized at the age of 25 on Wednesday at Haras Carampanque in San Antonio de Areco in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he had been pensioned since 2004.

A Kentucky-bred son of Blushing Groom out of the Lyphard mare Bubble Company, Candy Stripes had a French racing career that was highlighted by a second-place finish in the 1985 French 2000 Guineas. There followed a stud career in Kentucky and Brazil, but most notably in Argentina, where he was champion sire in 1994-95 and 1999-2000.

In addition to Invasor, Candy Stripes was the sire of Leroidesanimaux, a three-time Grade 1 winner in the United States and Canada; Different, a champion Argentine filly who won Grade 1 races on turf and dirt in America; Canadian champion grass mare Sweetest Thing; Argentine horse of the year Tapatio; and South African champion Ilha da Victoria.