In Memoriam 2005

What A Song Following the Best Pal Stakes

What a Song Euthanized
by Emily Hufford

In his stall at Santa Anita before his debut, What a Song stuck out his tongue, pinned his ears, and seemed to be smiling at stablehands passing by. The two-year-old son of Songandaprayer had recently been purchased by Bob and Beverly Lewis for $1.9 million, and was already attracting the attention of many who worked for trainer Bob Baffert. "He could be any kind," came the murmurs from several grooms and exercise riders, and assistant trainer Jim Barnes said, "He might be the best horse we have."

What a Song would go on to break his maiden in style first time out, and then returned to win the Hollywood Juvenile Championship in a gutty effort over the super fast fellow two-year-old Bashert. He headed to Del Mar two-for-two and heavily favored to win the Best Pal Stakes.

Flash forward to the paddock for the Best Pal, a grade two event for two-year-old colts. Bashert had recently fired a bullet :57.4 workout and could prove to be a tough competitor again. Newshooter Corazon- delcampeon and impressive maiden winner A.P. Warrior were also considered threats.

A racehorse doesn't know when he's about to face a tough challenge, and What a Song certainly took no notice. He drew clear in the stretch, easily taking the race. A jubilant Victor Espinoza returned to the winner's circle laughing and smiling, but his joy was topped by the joy that raged through the press box. "Bring on the Futurity!" came the excited cries. "There's no one in California who can run with this horse!" Several people thought it would be difficult to get a field of horses to run against What a Song in the popular race in Septemner.

On August 19, What a Song returned to the racetrack for a routine jog. On a cool Del Mar morning, he bounded along the track until he reached the top of the stretch, then his leg buckled, and What A Song's career and life were over.

The two-year-old out of What a Knight was euthanized back at the barn, and the dreams and hopes of many were crushed in an instant. The playful colt, full of personality, left behind a legacy with those who worked with him and saw him run.

The racing world lost a classy sprinter when it was reported that Saratoga County, the winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen in March, was euthanized due to laminitis caused from colitis. The four-year-old colt by Valid Expectations won six out of seventeen races and was on the board a total of eleven times before his untimely death.

George Weaver trained the colt for owner Evelyn Pollard. Saratoga County, who was to have stood at The Vinery upon his retirement, earned $1,646,590.

In 2003, Saratoga County won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct, and then won the General George at Laurel and the Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park before shipping to Dubai.

Egg Head at Belmont Park © Sarah K Anderson 2005

Three-year-old rising star Egg Head was euthanized this week after a mysterious hock infection caused him to founder. He was trained at the time by Kiaran McLaughlin.

The extremely talented colt was coming off a second place finish to Lost in the Fog in the Riva Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park on June 11.

For more information about Egg Head, click here.

Housebuster © Emily Hufford 2004

Housebuster Dead
by Emily Hufford

Eighteen-year-old Housebuster died on Sunday. The two-time Eclipse Award winning sprinter, who earned $1,229,696 during a career that included fifteen wins, appeared in distress on Sunday morning before his death. He died at a veterinary clinic in West Virginia.

The son of Mt. Livermore won fourteen stakes races in his career, and sired 32 stakes winners in a stallion career that took him to Japan, Argentina, New Zealand, and back to America.

Housebuster stood at Blue Ridge Farm for two years until he moved to O'Sullivan Farms for this year's breeding season.

Quintons Gold Rush © Dave Shields 2004