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Multi-Millionaire War Story Arrives At Old Friends For Retirement

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm based in Georgetown, Ky., announced Tuesday the arrival of multiple graded stakes winner War Story.

After a six-year career, the Kentucky-bred son Northern Afleet, now 8, has been pensioned by owners Imaginary Stables and Glenn Ellis. The gelding's last start was the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in August.

War Story broke his maiden first time out in 2014 in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. He has earned seven victories in all, including the G2 Brooklyn Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, the G3 Monmouth Cup Stakes at Monmouth Park, and the G3 Harlan's Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream.

The game chestnut never shied from top competition, however, facing eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the 2015 Kentucky Derby and again in the Breeders' Cup Classic, California Chrome in the 2016 Pacific Classic, and Arrogate in the 2017 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

War Story has raced coast-to-coast, from Saratoga to Santa Anita, making 40 starts in all earning eight wins, seven seconds and six thirds for total career earnings of $3,271,996.

“He is such a special horse,” said co-owner Ellis. “He could run any distance, he just never gave up, and he could do anything. I'm so happy now,” he added, “because he can just live a happy life and he's earned it.”

“I love War Story,” said Old Friends's founder and President Michael Blowen. “He always tried. I even loved him as a handicapper because he often filled out my trifectas and superfectas at a nice price. But nothing compares to feeding him mints and carrots every day. He's absolutely adorable.”

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Coady Photography Will Donate Percentage Of Authentic Calendar Sales To Old Friends

Coady Photography will donate 25 percent of all sales in December of its 2021 calendar honoring 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic to Old Friends Equine. The calendar is currently on sale for $30 and can be purchased at www.coadyphotography.com.

The 9” x 12” wall calendar features stunning Coady Photography pictures, some never before seen, from both the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland. The Into Mischief colt owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is only the fourth horse in history to win the Derby and Classic in the same year, following American Pharoah (2015), Unbridled (1990) and Sunday Silence (1989).

“We greatly appreciate this donation from Coady Photography,” Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said. “In this unprecedented year, we have had to look at alternative ways to raise much needed funds and this will be a big help to us. It's especially significant because Bob and Jill Baffert have donated so many great horses such as Game on Dude to Old Friends. And, they've supported us financially since we started more than 15 years ago. I hope all Thoroughbred racing fans will show their support for Old Friends by purchasing a calendar.”

“Coady Photography couldn't think of a better cause to support than Thoroughbred retirement and Old Friends,” Kurtis Coady said. “We are excited to help.”

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Coady to Donate 25% of Calendar Sales to Old Friends

Coady Photography will donate 25% of all sales in December of its 2021 calendar honoring 2020 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic (Into Mischief) to Old Friends Equine. The calendar is currently on sale for $30 and can be purchased at www.coadyphotography.com.

“Coady Photography couldn’t think of a better cause to support than Thoroughbred retirement and Old Friends,” Kurtis Coady said. “We are excited to help.

The 9″x12” wall calendar features Coady pictures, some never before seen, from both the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. Campaigned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the colt is only the fourth horse in history to win the Derby and Classic in the same year, following American Pharoah (2015), Unbridled (1990) and Sunday Silence (1989).

“We greatly appreciate this donation from Coady Photography,” Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said. “In this unprecedented year, we have had to look at alternative ways to raise much needed funds and this will be a big help to us. It’s especially significant because Bob and Jill Baffert have donated so many great horses such as Game on Dude to Old Friends. And, they’ve supported us financially since we started more than 15 years ago. I hope all Thoroughbred racing fans will show their support for Old Friends by purchasing a calendar.”

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Tom’s Ready Arrives at Old Friends

Tom’s Ready (More Than Ready), a three-time graded-stakes winner around one turn, has been added to the roster at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Kentucky.

The 7-year-old, trained by Dallas Stewart for Gayle and Tom Benson’s GMB Racing, was runner-up in the GIII Lecomte S. and GII Louisiana Derby in 2015, but cut back to one turn to win the GII Woody Stephens S. over seven furlongs and the GIII Ack Ack S. going a mile that season. Winner of the GIII Bold Ruler H. in 2016, the Pennsylvania-bred originally entered stud at Spendthrift and was later relocated to Red River Farms in Louisiana.

“It gives us great pleasure to have our wonderful Tom’s Ready retire to Old Friends,” Gayle Benson said. “He was our first purchase, he is a Grade II winner, and he raced in the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup, so we are very proud of him and he is deserving of the great care that Old Friends will provide.”

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