Sierra Leone, Forever Young share broodmare connection

It would be virtually impossible for a broodmare to have two Kentucky Derby starters in the same year; the race is, of course, only for 3-year-olds, and surviving, thriving twins are rare in horses. But the pensioned broodmare Darling My Darling has found a way to get her name into this year’s lineup twice. Two of the mare’s daughters have foals in the race, represented by Sierra Leone and Forever Young.

Darling My Darling, now 27, was purchased by John and Debby Oxley as a yearling; she was multiple Grade 1-placed as a juvenile, and a stakes winner at 3 and 4 before joining the broodmare band at Fawn Leap Farm in Midway, Ky. The Deputy Minister mare produced seven winners from as many starters, led by Grade 1 winner Heavenly Love and Grade 2 winner Forever Darling.

Heavenly Love, who the Oxleys still own, is the dam of Sierra Leone, who was sold as a yearling for $2.3 million. Forever Darling, who resides in Japan, produced Forever Young.

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