Oklahoma sire Oratory dies

Oratory, one of the leading stallions in Oklahoma, was euthanized after an accident following a recent surgery, according to a joint release from his ownership and the farm at which he stood, River Oaks in Sulphur, Okla. He was 14. He was eighth on the general sire list in Oklahoma in 2015.

Oratory, who stood as the property of Mike Grossman’s Eureka Thoroughbred Farm of Texas, had surgery for a nerve issue. He was a son of Pulpit out of Arrested Dreams, by Dehere. From six crops to race, Oratory has sired four stakes winners and progeny earnings of $7.89 million.

His leading earner is Monster Sleeping, a multiple stakes winner who earned $481,880. She won the Maryland Million Ladies Stakes twice. He is also the sire of the $464,341-earner and multiple stakes winner Tujoes.

“The loss of this good stallion is a loss for many people that were willing to support him and recognized his impeccable breeding and conformation,” said Francisco Bravo, co-owner of River Oaks. “Undoubtedly it's a terrible loss for owner Mike Grossman. We would like to thank everyone for their support and understanding.”

Oratory won three of five career starts, all at age 3, with his lone stakes win coming in the 2005 Grade 2 Peter Pan, a race for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 114. He was bred in Kentucky by Louie Roussel III.

Oratory previously stood in Texas, at Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, and spent some of his stud career in Maryland. He was Texas’s leading sire by earnings in 2012, according to the release that was distributed by American Racehorse.

He has sired eight crops, with 200 foals of racing age, including 20 2-year-olds of 2016, with 139 starters and 101 winners.