Broodmare of the Year Leslie’s Lady, whose legacy continues to impact racing through son Into Mischief, died early Monday at her longtime home, Clarkland Farm in Lexington, Ky. The daughter of Tricky Creek was 26.
Leslie’s Lady, whose death was first reported by the Blood-Horse, had been pensioned since delivering her final foal, the Kantharos filly Love You Irene, in May 2020. She resided with fellow pensioner Hidden Assets at Clarkland and was buried on the farm.
The first several months of a new year are always full of foaling announcements, particularly anticipated arrivals for new stallions. The incoming stallions of 2021 – whose resulting first crops are arriving now, roughly 11 months later – were led by 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic. The Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner, standing alongside his sire Into Mischief at Spendthrift Farm, was the most expensive member of his incoming class, with an advertised fee of $75,000.
Halladay, the winner of the Grade 1 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga in 2020 and two other stakes, has been retired to stud at Harris Farms in Coalinga, Calif., it was announced earlier this week.
Halladay, by War Front, will stand for $7,500.
A winner of 6 of 17 starts, Halladay earned $565,245 in a four-year career for owner Harrell Ventures and trainer Todd Pletcher. Halladay raced primarily on turf. He won the Tropical Park Derby in December 2019 and the Sunshine Forever Stakes in March 2020, both at Gulfstream Park.
Grade 1 winner Frost Giant was euthanized from complications of laminitis on Monday. The 19-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway had resided as a pensioner at the ReRun Thoroughbred retraining and adoption farm in East Greenbush, N.Y., since early last year.
The stallion served as an ambassador for the aftercare organization, which has taken in several of the stallion’s retired offspring over the years, including multiple stakes winner West Hills Giant.
Grade 3 winner Speightster, who hails from one of Canada's most successful families, will return to those roots to continue his stud career, as he has been purchased by Jay and Christine Hayden’s Saintsbury Farms to stand at Northern Dawn Stables in Hillsburgh, Ontario.
Suzie O’Cain, a prominent figure in New York breeding and racing for decades, died Tuesday in Saratoga Springs after a battle with breast cancer.
O'Cain was born in Madison, Wisc., and raised in Mississippi. She became involved with Thoroughbreds after meeting her husband of 40 years, Dr. C. Lynwood “Doc” O’Cain.
Gamine, the 2020 Eclipse Award champion female sprinter, has been retired from racing, owner Michael Lund Petersen announced via a press release issued Tuesday evening.
The 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief will take up residence at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Paris, Ky. No breeding plans for Gamine’s first mating in the upcoming 2022 season have been announced.
“Gamine is leaving the track happy and healthy,” Petersen said in the release. “She gave me and my family the thrill of a lifetime. We look forward to her next chapter.”
European champion juvenile Air Force Blue has been acquired by Pegasus Farm of South Korea to continue his stud career. The young stallion, who previously stood at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, will become the first son of popular international sire War Front to stand in Korea.
