Plum Pretty

To adapt Shakespeare on Cleopatra: "age cannot wither him, nor custom stale his infinite variety." To be enjoying an Indian summer like this, however, Medaglia d'Oro has had to stem what often proves an inexorable tide once a stallion enters the evening of his career. For the ageism so common among breeders can be self-fulfilling. Any stallion still operating at 26 must have shown an unequivocal prowess over the years. That being so, however, he will typically have produced fashionable sons to erode his own market share. And once enough...

Her dam had once been claimed for $15,000 and when John Fort's vet went out to approve the transaction, he found the filly grazing with a bunch of cattle. He rang Fort to check whether he realized that she wasn't even on a horse farm. "It's a cattle ranch," he told the owner of Peachtree Stable. "She's the only horse out here." Fort had noticed that she was bred by a Greenwich Cattle Company, but had given it no further thought. He had loved the filly, from the first crop...

2011's GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro) died Monday at Gainesway Farm according to a release from the farm. The 16-year-old was a multiple Grade I winner throughout her career for Peachtree Stable and trainer Bob Baffert and ultimately captured the lilies before retiring in 2012 with earnings of over $1.7m and a final record of 12-5-2-3. A $130,000 OBS yearling, Plum Pretty would last secure a final bid of $4.2m from Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm at KEENOV in 2012.  She produced a total of 8 foals...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency DAUGHTER OF PLUM PRETTY DEBUTS IN NY 1st-BEL, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 1m, 12:20p.m. PLUM AWESOME (Curlin), the latest offspring of GI Kentucky Oaks victress Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), makes her career bow in this spot for Todd Pletcher. Mandy Pope purchased dual Grade I winner and millionaire Plum Pretty for $4.2-million at the 2012 KEENOV sale and she has produced one winner from three to race thus far. Also debuting in this test is Gary and Mary West homebred Wedding Band (Candy Ride {Arg}),...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PLUM PRETTY COLT DEBUTS AT GULFSTREAM 7th-GP, $47K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 3:00p.m. Whisper Hill Farm homebred PLUM FUNNY (Distorted Humor), a son of MGISW Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), makes his career bow in this test for Ralph Nicks. Mandy Pope paid $4.2-million for GI Kentucky Oaks victress and millionaire Plum Pretty at the 2012 Keeneland November Sale. She has produced one winner from two foals of racing age and her recent foals include the juvenile filly Plum Awesome (Curlin) and a yearling colt by...

Abel Tasman (Quality Road), Beholder (Henny Hughes), Stephanie's Kitten (Kitten's Joy), Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), Stellar Wind (Curlin) and Flower Alley (Distorted Humor). These names are recognizable champions, classic winners, and high-profile Grade I winners. Another common thread they all share is they were bred during their respective sires' third season, on stud fees ranging from $12,500 to $40,000. It took their breeders' confidence, gumption, and desire to not just go with the status quo and avoid young sires that were in their "bubble years." Breeding Thoroughbreds is a long-term...