Ohio stallion I’ll Raise You One dies at age 29

I’ll Raise You One, a pensioned Ohio stallion and Grade 3-placed winner, was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age at Fair Winds Farm in Waynesville, Ohio. He was 29 years old.

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm Venture II, the son of Far North was bought by owner Al Corrado for $16,000 at the 1985 Keeneland September yearling sale. After his first start, trainer James Morgan described I’ll Raise You One as “the fastest horse I ever trained.”

“He made his first start at Hialeah when that track was ‘The Place,’” said Morgan, who conditioned the horse for the bulk of his career. “He won by 12 or 14 lengths and impressed everyone—even the track announcer.”

I’ll Raise You One raced primarily in the Midwest and Florida during his on-track career, setting the track record at Arlington Park for 7 1/2 furlongs and at Fairmount Park for a mile and 70 yards. In 1987, he finished second in the Grade 3 Fairmount Derby, then finished third in the Marfa Handicap at Turfway Park.

I’ll Raise You One was retired to stud in 1991 with eight wins in 28 starts over four seasons of racing for earnings of $152,762.

Corrado remained true to his star runner when he became a stallion, breeding his top two runners—multiple Ohio stakes winners Doubly Fun and Double Your Fun, both out of the Flying Paster mare Flying Pleasure.

“Al really loved I’ll Raise You One,” said Lori Williams, who operates Fair Winds Farm with her husband Kim. “Right up to the year he passed away, every single Christmas he would send a big basket for him filled with apples, carrots and peppermints.”

In total, I’ll Raise You One sired 50 winners, including five stakes winners, from 14 crops. He was buried at Fair Winds Farm alongside Ohio champion Honey Jay.