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Turkish Expatriate El Corredor Dead at 26

GI Cigar Mile H. winner and former Hill 'n' Dale sire El Corredor (Mr. Greeley–Silvery Swan, by Silver Deputy) has died at the age of 26 in Turkey, according to Turkish news source Yaris Dergisi. El Corredor has stood since 2015 at the Turkey Jockey Club's Silivri Stallion Complex until reportedly passing away Tuesday, June 20.

A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling from the first crop of Mr. Greeley, El Corredor was purchased by Bob Baffert and raced in the colors of Hal J. Earnhardt III. The dark bay won the Cigar Mile and GII Del Mar Breeders' Cup H. at three before adding a second edition of the Del Mar Breeders' Cup and the GII Pat O'Brien H. at four. Often brilliant but frequently plagued by quarter cracks, the Needham-Betz Thoroughbreds/Liberation Farm-bred retired with a record of 10-7-1-0 and earnings of $727,920.

After standing several years in Kentucky, as well as stints at Questroyal North in New York and The Stallion Station at Copper Crowne in Louisiana, plus shuttling several seasons to Argentina, El Corredor was purchased to stand in Turkey for the 2015 breeding season. He has 33 black-type winners bred in the Northern Hemisphere, including Grade I winners Adieu, Backseat Rhythm, Crisp, and Dominican, and five other graded winners.

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Classic-Place Isfahani Passes Away

Darius Racing's Group 3 winner Isfahani (Ger) (Isfahan {Ger}–Identity {Ger}, by Manduro {Ger}), who was runner-up in the 2021 G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks), died suddenly on Thursday. An autopsy is pending.

Dr. Stefan Oschmann's Racing Manager Holger Faust said in a statement, “Unfortunately we have to announce that Isfahani passed away suddenly and surprisingly today. We requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. It's very sad, she was Dr. Oschmann's favorite horse.”

Bred by Gestut Karlshof, the chestnut filly was purchased by Faust for €36,000 out of the 2019 BBAG Yearling Sale. Sent to trainer Henk Grewe, she ran second-promoted to first-in the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli in Rome last November. Fourth in the G2 Derby Italiano there on May 23, the daughter of Identity ran fifth in Hamburg's G3 Mehl-Mulhens-Trophy on July 4 prior to her German Oaks second. Her final start was a third in the G2 T. von Zastrow Stutenpreis at Baden-Baden on Sept. 4.

“In the Italian Derby she lost an iron and ran hard, coming out of the race with an injury,” Faust added. “Trainer [Henk] Grewe said we will experience the real Isfahani in the Gran Preis Europa [on Sept. 26], that is not granted to her or us now, but we are grateful to have seen her in the Darius Racing colors on the racetrack.”

The third foal of her winning dam, Isfahani is from the same family as top-class gallopers Irian (Ger) (Tertullian), who won the G2 German 2000 Guineas and was placed at the highest level in Hong Kong, France and Singapore, and Group 3 winner and G1 Preis von Europa runner-up Ibicenco (Ger) (Shirocco {Ger}).

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Bernardini Dead at 18

Classic winner and leading sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy-Cara Rafaela, by Quiet American) was euthanized July 30 at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Central Kentucky due to complications from laminitis. The 18-year-old stallion, a homebred for Sheikh Mohammed's operation, has stood at Jonabell since he was retired for the 2007 breeding season.

“Bernardini was one of a kind,” said Michael Banahan, director of farm operations for Godolphin USA. “From the day he was born, he exuded class. He was that crop's best foal, best yearling, and best racehorse. His brilliance was only surpassed by his wonderful character. He will be sorely missed by all on the farm, but especially by his handler for the past 15 years, Philip Hampton. It was an honor to be a custodian of this Classic-winning stallion whose legacy will live long as a broodmare sire.”

Sheikh Mohammed purchased Bernardini's dam, 1995 GI Hollywood Starlet S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up Cara Rafaela, privately in 2002 with Bernardini in utero. The mare was eventually named 2006 Broodmare of the Year primarily due to Bernardini's exploits. The son of A.P. Indy burst onto the racing scene as a 3-year-old for Darley, following an off-the-board debut with six straight victories, including daylight wins in the GI Preakness S., GI Travers S., GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, GII Jim Dandy S., and GIII Withers S. He was retired after finishing second to eventual Horse of the Year Invasor (Arg) (Candy Stripes) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. The Tom Albertrani trainee, who marked the first American Classic winner for Sheikh Mohammed, was honored as the 2006 Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Colt.

“Bernardini was such a majestic animal,” said Albertrani. “He was very talented, one of the best horses I've ever been around. I just feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to train him. He was a star.”

With his racing career complete, Bernardini entered stud at Jonabell and quickly delivered with four Grade/Group I winners in his first crop. With 12 crops of racing age to date, Bernardini has sired 48 graded winners and a total of 80 black-type winners, with progeny earnings barely shy of $100 million. His Grade/Group I winners globally number 15. Among his top runners in the U.S. are triple Grade I winner Cavorting, Travers and GI Cigar Mile winner Stay Thirsty, Travers and GI Woodward S. winner Alpha, and Woodward and Cigar Mile winner To Honor and Serve. Bernardini also shuttled to Australia for eight seasons, where his top runners from that foray include New Zealand 2-year-old champion and G1SW Ruud Awakening (Aus). Bernardini ranked 20th on the Lifetime Active Sires List at the time of his death.

For all of Bernardini's accomplishments as a sire, it is as a broodmare sire that he may make the biggest and most lasting impact. For the 2021 season, he currently has the highest percentage of graded stakes winners to starters of all broodmare sires with active runners. In May, he became the youngest stallion in history to hit the mark of 50 black-type winners as a damsire. Among the 54 stakes winners out of his daughters are 32 graded winners and 11 Grade I winners, including Maxfield (Street Sense), Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), Serengeti Empress (Alternation), Dunbar Road (Quality Road), and Colonel Liam (Liam's Map).

“Bernardini was Sheikh Mohammed's first winner of a Triple Crown race–and a homebred one, too–and then a leading sire,” said Godolphin USA president Jimmy Bell. “We have been blessed to have him. A beautiful horse, and a lovely character, we are lucky to have so many of his daughters on the farm to continue his legacy.”

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Botulism: A Deadly Disease

Botulism in not a disease many horse owners are familiar with—but they should be as the disease is often deadly. Caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, the soil-borne disease is more common in certain areas of the country, like Kentucky. The spores of the bacterium produce a neurotoxin that block the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles. This results in progressive weakness that makes the horse unable to swallow. Up to 50 percent of horses that receive supportive care can die; those that get no assistance are even more likely to perish from the disease.

Horses can get botulism in three ways:

Ingestion of decaying plant material or animal carcasses in hay or on pasture grass
Infection through wounds
Ingestion of spores and vegetative cells that cause Shaker Foal syndrome

There are different types of botulism: Types and B are associated with forage, while Type C is associated with the accidental ingestion of decaying animals.

A vaccination for botulism type B is available, but it is not considered a core vaccination as it is found mainly in Kentucky and the mid-Atlantic states. A horse's risk of getting the disease should be discussed with its treating veterinarian to determine if vaccination is necessary.

Foals are at particular risk of developing botulism, so pregnant mares should be vaccinated against the disease before they foal. Foals born in areas of the country where botulism abounds should receive Botulism type B toxoid at 2, 4 and 8 weeks old even if the mare was vaccinated.

There are no licensed vaccines for botulism A or C.

Read the AAEP botulism vaccination recommendations here.