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Will’s Way Passes Away at Old Friends Cabin Creek

Will’s Way (Easy Goer–Willamae, by Tentam), whose racing career was highlighted by a hard-fought victory in the 1996 GI Travers S., passed away Dec. 24 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY. He was just over a week shy of celebrating his 28th birthday.

Campaigned by Rudlein Stable and trained by H. James Bond, Will’s Way didn’t begin his career until early in his sophomore season, but was a neck second to GI Preakness S. hero Louis Quatorze (Sovereign Dancer) in the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga before turning the tables on that rival and Skip Away (Skip Trial) in the Midsummer Derby. Seventh to Old Friends Kentucky inmate Alphabet Soup (Cozzene) in the 1996 GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, Will’s Way was runner-up in the 1997 GII Suburban H. before besting Formal Gold (Black Tie Affair {Ire}) by a nose in the 1997 GI Whitney H., with Skip Away a distant third. Will’s Way had a brief stud career, siring GI Cigar Mile H. hero Lion Tamer and GSW Willy O’The Valley.

“We all loved him so much,” said Joann Pepper, owner and manager of Cabin Creek. “He would take our breath away when he decided to run. I will miss brushing his tail and kissing his star–I’ll even miss letting him chew on me,” Pepper added, referring to Will’s sometimes cantankerous personality. “It was such an honor to care for him.”

“He was such an exciting racehorse, and we were so thrilled to have him with us first in Kentucky and then in New York,” said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. “Our heart goes out to our friends at Cabin Creek. Joann and Will had a very special bond, and we know he will be sorely missed by everyone there.”

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Old Friends: Whitney, Travers Winner Will’s Way Passes At Age 27

Will's Way, winner of the 1997 Whitney Handicap and 1996 Travers Stakes, died Dec. 24 at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in Greenfield Center, NY.

Euthanized due to declining health, the son of Easy Goer out of the Tentam mare Willamae was 27.

Will's Way was among the flagship stallions retired to Old Friends, the non-profit Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky. After a few seasons in Kentucky, Will was transferred to Cabin Creek, the organization's satellite facility just outside Saratoga where he was often greeted by his many adoring New York fans.

Campaigned by trainer James H. Bond for owners Rudlein Stables, Will had a relatively short but spectacular career on the race track. After breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park first time out in 1996, he went on to capture the G1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga, prevailing over Preakness winner Louis Quatorze and the great Skip Away.

In 1997 Will took the G1 Whitney Handicap, again at Saratoga, over Formal Gold, with Skip Away finishing third. The top two finishers each earned extraordinary 126 Beyer Speed Figures.

In his career, Will's Way won or placed in 11 of 13 races and retired with earnings of $954,400. His greatest son, Lion Tamer, won the G1 Cigar Mile Handicap in 2004.

“We all loved him so much,” said Joann Pepper, owner and manager of Cabin Creek. “He would take our breath away when he decided to run. I will miss brushing his tail and kissing his star—I'll even miss letting him chew on me,” Pepper added, referring to Will's sometimes cantankerous personality. “It was such an honor to care for him.”

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‘Awesome Indeed’: Awesome Again Dies At 26, Full Veterinary Report Pending

Old Friends distributed the following press release on Dec. 16:

1998 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again died very suddenly yesterday at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky. The stallion was 26.

Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, made the announcement this morning.

The exact cause of death is unknown; however, a full necropsy is pending and a full veterinary report will follow.

The Canadian-bred son of Deputy Minister, Awesome Again had an exemplary resume as both a racehorse and a stallion. He broke his maiden at Hollywood Park in just his second start as a 3-year-old in 1997. He returned a few weeks later to capture that year's Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine. Back in the U.S. that summer the son of Deputy Minister went on to win the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes and was third to Deputy Commander in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

At four, he completed an undefeated season that included five graded stakes victories, among them the Stephen Foster Handicap (G1), the Whitney Handicap (G1), and one of the most memorable editions of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), where, looking defeated, he rallied in the stretch to defeat Grade 1 winners Coronado's Quest and Swain and that year's Kentucky Derby/Preakness hero, Silver Charm.

He retired from racing in 1998 with nine wins from 12 starts and earnings of $4,374,590.

As significant in the breeding shed as he was on the track, Awesome again sired three champions: Ghostzapper, 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older horse; Ginger Punch, 2007 champion older mare; and Nominee, a multiple champion in Trinidad and Tobago. His other elite runners include Old Friends retirees Game on Dude — who captured 14 graded stakes and is the only three-time winner of the Santa Anita Handicap in history — and Awesome Gem, who captured the Hollywood Gold Cup at age seven; Breeder's Cup Distaff winner Round Pond; Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko; and 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston.

He sired 13 millionaires and five multimillionaires as well as four Breeders' Cup Champions. Awesome Again was also the first Breeders' Cup Classic winner to sire a Breeders' Cup Classic winner (Ghostzapper).

Awesome Again had been retired from stud duty at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs in Paris, Ky., in 2019 and was pensioned to Old Friends in October of this year along with the stallions Milwaukee Brew and Silver Max.

“Anyone who ever saw Awesome Again on the racetrack or at Adena Springs knew he was aptly-named,” said Old Friends' Blowen. “I'm just sorry his time at Old Friends was so short because I know he would have made a searing, lasting impression on his many fans, and I'm so sorry that circumstances prevented him from displaying his greatness for a lot longer. Awesome, indeed.”

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Awesome Again Dead at 26

Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and top sire Awesome Again (Deputy Minister–Primal Force, by Blushing Groom {Fr}) died suddenly Tuesday at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Kentucky. He was 26.

(Click here for video feature ‘The House That Awesome Again Built’)

The exact cause of death is unknown. A full necropsy is pending and a full veterinary report will follow.

The Canadian-bred had an exemplary resume as both a racehorse and a stallion. He broke his maiden at Hollywood Park in just his second start as a 3-year-old in 1997. He returned a few weeks later to capture that year’s Queen’s Plate S. at Woodbine. Back in the U.S. that summer the Stronach Stables homebred went on to win the GII Jim Dandy S. and was third in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga.

At four, he completed an undefeated season that included five graded stakes victories, among them the GI Stephen Foster H., GI Whitney H., and one of the most memorable editions of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, where, looking defeated, he rallied in the stretch to defeat Coronado’s Quest and Swain and that year’s GI Kentucky Derby-Preakness hero, Silver Charm.

He retired from racing in 1998 with nine wins from 12 starts and earnings of $4,374,590.

His other elite runners include Old Friends retirees Game on Dude–who captured 14 graded stakes and is the only three-time winner of the GI Santa Anita H. in history–and Awesome Gem, who captured the GI Hollywood Gold Cup at age seven; GI Breeder’s Cup Distaff winner Round Pond; GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Wilko; and 2019 GI Belmont S. winner Sir Winston.

He sired 13 millionaires and five multi-millionaires as well as four Breeders’ Cup winner. Awesome Again was also the first Breeders’ Cup Classic winner to sire a Classic winner (Ghostzapper).

Awesome Again had been retired from stud duty at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs in 2019 and was pensioned to Old Friends in October of this year.

“Anyone who ever saw Awesome Again on the racetrack or at Adena Springs knew he was aptly named,” Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, said. “I’m just sorry his time at Old Friends was so short because I know he would have made a searing, lasting impression on his many fans, and I’m so sorry that circumstances prevented him from displaying his greatness for a lot longer. Awesome, indeed.”

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