Grade 1 winner Hal's Hope dies

MIAMI - Hal's Hope, a two-time Grade 1 winner, died Friday at the Palm Beach Equine Hospital from complications following intestinal surgery. He was 5.

Hal's Hope scored his most important victories in the 2000 Florida Derby and earlier this winter in the Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap. Owned, bred, and trained by 90-year-old Harold Rose, Hal's Hope made his last start in the Memorial Day Handicap at Calder, finishing third behind Best of the Rest and High Ideal.

"He was sick for almost a month," said Rose. "He had intestinal problems and was operated on three times. He had complications during his last surgery and they weren't able to save him. There was nothing we could do or say. He was part of the family - one in a million."

Rose became the darling of the media when he brought Hal's Hope to Churchill Downs to run in the 2000 Kentucky Derby. Hal's Hope finished 16th after setting a blistering early pace in a race won by Fusaichi Pegasus.

Hal's Hope ended his career with nine victories from 33 starts and earnings of just over $1.1 million.