Florida sire Halo's Image dead at 19

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Halo's Image, a leading Florida sire twice, died on Friday, Bridlewood Farm announced Sunday.

The farm reported that the 19-year-old Halo stallion died after having what appeared to be a heart attack while covering a mare.

Halo's Image, who stood at Bridlewood in Ocala, Fla., for $4,000 this season, is the sire of Grade 1 winner Southern Image; graded winners How's Your Halo and Halo Steven; multiple graded-placed Halo Najib; and multiple stakes winner Sir Oscar. From 10 racing-age crops to date, he has sired earners of more than $20.5 million.

He led Florida's stallion standings in 2004 and 2006.

Bridlewood owner Arthur Appleton bred Halo's Image from the stakes-winning Valid Appeal mare Sugar's Image. Appleton raced the colt in partnership with trainer Happy Alter, and they won six stakes with him, including the Grade 3 Tropical Park and Broward handicaps in 1994 and 1996, respectively. Halo's Image earned $549,891 from 9 wins, 6 seconds, and 3 thirds in 26 lifetime starts. He raced for five seasons before retiring to stud.

"The combination of his racing career and his breeding career put him into a select group of Florida horses," Alter said. "I trained his mother, Sugar's Image, who was the winningest Valid Appeal mare, and we chose to breed her to Halo. All my expectations became true when Halo's Image hit the racetrack."

Bridlewood also stands Halo's Image's half-brother Unbridled's Image.