Champion Soaring Softly (Kris S.–Wings of Grace, by Key to the Mint), a winner of the inaugural GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, passed away in a paddock accident Sept. 29, Darby Dan Farm announced via Twitter Wednesday. She was 20. An Eclipse Award winner as Champion Grass Mare in 1999 during a seven-for-eight season, the chestnut was campaigned by Darby Dan's Phillips Racing Partnership.
Despite breaking her maiden over the Aqueduct dirt as a juvenile and adding a Keeneland main track allowance victory at three to go with a fourth-place effort in the GI Acorn S., the Jimmy Toner trainee proved a revelation switched to the grass during her 4-year-old season in 1999. In addition to her Breeders' Cup victory, Soaring Softly captured the GI Flower Bowl Invitational H., GII New York H. and the GII Sheepshead Bay H., with the only loss being a fifth-place finish in the GII Diana H. at Saratoga. Closing from far off the pace, Soaring Softly justified favoritism in what turned out to be her career finale in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park. She retired with a record of 16-9-1-3, and earned $1,270,433.
Bred by Darby Dan's Galbreath/Phillips Racing Partnership in Kentucky, Soaring Softly was produced by GIII Boiling Spring H. winner Wings of Grace (Key to the Mint), herself a half-sister to top producer Battle Creek Girl (His Majesty), responsible for champion Wavering Girl (Wavering Monarch), and MGSWs Tricky Creek (Clever Trick), Parade Ground (Kingmambo), and GSWs Parade Leader (Kingmambo) and Speed Dialer (Phone Trick). A half-sister to GISW Plenty of Grace (Roberto), Soaring Softly foaled stakes winner Much Rejoicing (Distorted Humor) and the stakes placed Shine Softly (Aldebaran). She is also the second dam of MSW and GSP Spring to the Sky (Langfuhr). The last foal produced by the Darby Dan resident was a Medaglia d'Oro filly of 2014. She had been covered by Ghostzapper this spring.
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