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Belmont S. Winner Sarava Dies At Old Friends

2002 GI Belmont S. winner Sarava (Wild Again) has died at Old Friends. According to the preliminary report from Dr. Colton Thacker at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, he was euthanized due to complications from a leg fracture at the age of 24.

The dark bay was the first Classic winner to be retired to the farm Sept. 29, 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake, and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain.

He upset the field of the 2002 GI Belmont S. at odds of 70-1, defeating Medaglia d'Oro (El Prado {Ire}) and Triple Crown contender War Emblem (Our Emblem).

Sarava concluded his racing career with a record of 17-3-3-0 and $773,832 in earnings and began his stud career in 2005 at Florida's division of Cloverleaf Farms before moving to the Kentucky division in 2007. In 2008, he returned to Florida to Bridlewood Farm where he remained for the rest of his stud career.

Pensioned in 2012, the then 13-year old stallion was donated to Old Friends and arrived at the farm Sept. 29, 2012.

“It's a sad day for our family and friends,” said owner Gary Drake when he heard the news. “We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001. When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliche, but people say it all the time, they (the horses) take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us.”

“Sarava attracted so many fans to Old Friends,” added Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends. “Most recently, a horse player said he bought a condo in Ft. Myers with his winnings from that race. But, to us, he was a lot more than the longest shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes who defeated fellow Old Friends retiree, War Emblem. He was proud, independent and, in his way, very lovable. And you can't buy that… even at $142.50. We thank owner Gary Drake and friend Tom Bozarth for allowing us to care for Sarava for more than a decade.”

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Pletchers Honored With Marylou Whitney Award For Commitment To The Backstretch Community

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, along with his wife Tracy, received the Marylou Whitney Award from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy for their continuing devotion and support of the backstretch community at the organization's 16th annual fundraising brunch at the Saratoga National Golf Club, the organization said in a release Wednesday.

“I can't say enough about what the New York Race Track Chaplaincy organization does for the backstretch community,” Pletcher said. “It provides so much more than spiritual help. I look at it like the mayor's office where everyone goes when they need help. On behalf of Tracy and our children, thank you very much for this honor and for your support of the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy.”

As is the custom, the Pletchers were presented with a framed racing scene created by equine artist Tom Chapman from the New York Race Track Chaplaincy. In a surprise appearance, Pletcher's mentor, fellow Hall of Famer trainer D. Wayne Lukas, made the presentation.

“God blessed Todd with extraordinary talent and he has shown class, dignity and integrity throughout his career,” Lukas said. “In addition to their own family, Todd and Tracy have also adopted the backstretch family and they are most deserving of this honor.”

The brunch attracted a record crowd of approximately 350 individuals from all segments of the racing industry and included such supporters as Mandy Pope, Jo Ann and Paul Oreffice and Len Green.

Among those in attendance were: Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY), NYS Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets Elizabeth Wolters, trainer Jena Antonucci and Hall of Famer riders Javier Castellano, Angel Cordero Jr., Edgar Prado, and John Velazquez. Liz Bishop, the longtime television news anchor for the CBS affiliate in Albany, once again served as emcee.

Previous honorees have included Andy Serling, Irad Ortiz Jr., Anne Campbell, Edgar Prado, Michael Dubb, Fay and David Donk, Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, Letty and Kiaran McLaughlin, Lisa and Kenny Troutt, Debbie and Terry Finley and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

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Old Friends Hosting Prado Retirement Party

Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, announced Monday that they will host a retirement celebration for Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado on Saturday, July 15. The veteran reinsman was the regular pilot for two Old Friends residents–GI Belmont S. winners Sarava (Wild Again) and Birdstone (Grindstone)–as well as 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro (Dynaformer) and 2015 Breeders' Cup Sprint hero Runhappy (Super Saver).

“It's an honor to be present at Old Friends,” Prado said. “They really take care of the horses after their careers, giving them the best life possible every single day. I'm very proud to be part of that organization.

“It's an honor for me, also, to share this celebration with my buddies, Birdstone and Sarava. I'm very excited to see them again. I wish them a good, long life. I know they are in a very beautiful place, surrounded by beautiful people who really care about the horses.”

Festivities, which include a meet and greet with Prado, will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 300 p.m. EDT at the Thoroughbred retirement sanctuary. Admission is free and those interested must RSVP.

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Hall of Fame Jockey Edgar Prado Has Retired

In a tweet sent out Tuesday afternoon, Gulfstream Park announced that Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado has retired. With 7,119 victories, Prado, 56, is the eighth winningest jockey in the sport's history. He has not ridden since the Jan. 6 card at Gulfstream.

At deadline for this story, Prado had not returned a phone from the TDN, but told the Blood-Horse that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“It was getting harder and harder and I was wasting the time that I spent with my family, with my loved ones,” he told the Blood-Horse. “I saw my kids in my house having a great time and I decided to call it off. I've been very blessed throughout my career.”

Prado's decision to retire came after one of the roughest stretches of his career. He won just 15 races in 2021 and another 11 in 2022. This year, he was 0-for-2.

“They all wanted new riders,” he told said. “I totally understand that. When I was 20, I took somebody's place and now somebody is taking my place.”

Prado was born in Lima, Peru, where he rode his first winner in 1983. He began riding in the U.S. in 1986, starting out at the Florida tracks before moving on to Suffolk Downs. He had his breakthrough at the Maryland tracks, where, in 1997, he won 536 races. He was the leading jockey in Maryland six times, 1991 through 1993 and 1997 through 1999. Prado led all riders in the nation in wins three times, in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

In 1999, Richard Migliore, who was riding regularly for trainer John Kimmel had a spill and Kimmel needed a new rider. He summoned Prado from Maryland and that began a very successful run at the NYRA tracks for the talented Peruvian jockey. He would go on to win 11 riding titles at the NYRA tracks.

He won the 2002 GI Belmont S. with Sarava (Wild Again), the longest shot ever to win the race, and the 2004 Belmont with Birdstone (Grindstone). He also won five Breeders' Cup races. But Prado will always be best known as the rider of the ill-fated Barbaro (Dynaformer). After a rousing win by Barbaro in the 2006 GI Kentucky Derby with Prado aboard, the colt appeared ready to sweep the Triple Crown, but he broke down in the GI Preakness S. and was euthanized several months later.

Prado won an Eclipse Award in 2006 as the nation's leading rider and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

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