old friends | Horse Racing Free Tips

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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Veteran Rated R Superstar Retiring to Old Friends

Fan favorite Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), a 13-time winner of over $1.8 million in a career that spanned nine seasons at the racetrack, has been retired and will take up residence at Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky, according to a series of tweets from Allison Caldwell, the wife of trainer Danny Caldwell.

Rated R Superstar began his career in the barn of Ken McPeek and was third to Brody's Cause (Giant's Causeway) in the 2015 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity before finishing unplaced behind Nyquist (Uncle Mo) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Winner of the GIII Carry Back S. in 2016, he added the GIII Ben Ali S. as a 5-year-old in 2018 and was claimed by Cipriano Contreras for $62,500 late that year. Winner of the 2019 Essex H., Rated R Superstar was haltered by Caldwell for $50,000 in January 2021 and posted his richest career victory in the 2022 GIII Essex H. A two-time winner of the Governor's Cup at Remington Park in 2021 and 2022, he was being aimed for a third try at that event, but Allison Caldwell tweeted that medication constructs dictated that he be retired “sound, healthy and happy.”

“Today is a bittersweet one, as @IloveFastHorses (Danny Caldwell) and I announce Rated R superstar's retirement to Old Friends,” Allison Caldwell said in the first of a three-tweet thread. “Owning Rated R has been one of the greatest gifts in our racing careers. He's a member of the family and we've always done things his way, in his best interest.

“As rule changes for Lasix this year, we feel an absence of therapeutic medication is not in the best interest for optimal health & performance. We're not in the habit of changing the things that are working for rules that do not benefit the health of our horses as individual.

“We are very excited about this next chapter and we ask that if you're in the area of Old Friends, please schedule a time to visit or make a donation on his behalf. He's a very social guy and he loves seeing his friends!”

In reply, Old Friends tweeted: “Allison, we are thrilled at the prospect of Rated R Superstar retiring to Old Friends. Thank you for trusting us with your boy!”

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GISW V. E. Day Arrives At Old Friends

Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky, welcomed V. E. Day this week, the retirement farm said in a release Friday.

The 2014 GI Travers S. hero, V. E. Day (English Channel–California Sunset, by Deputy Minister) came to Old Friends following the death of his owner-breeder Magalen O. Bryant in 2021. Bryant's representative, Johnathan Miller, and her daughter, K. C. Graham, visited Old Friends earlier this year when it was decided that the stallion would retire from stud duty.

“V. E. Day was a courageous Travers winner and we inquired about his post-breeding career last year,” said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. “We're very excited that his owner trusts us with her magnificent chestnut.”

Foaled in Kentucky on April 21, 2011, V. E. Day was trained by James Jerkens for Bryant his entire American racing career. After a stint racing in France as a 6-year-old, he retired with $1,044,061 in earnings over 17 career starts.

During his stud career, the stallion stood at Waldorf Farm in New York, Lovacres Ranch near Warner Springs, California and Buck Pond Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.

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MGSW Jonesboro Passes At Old Friends

MGSW Jonesboro (Sefapiano), a 21-year-old stallion, was found deceased in his paddock during morning rounds on Thursday, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, Kentucky said in a release.

Bred by Jayeff “B” Stables and foaled in Kentucky on Mar. 15, 2002, the chestnut stallion was purchased at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling sale by Michael Langford for $27,000 and he was trained by Randy Morse.

Among his many accomplishments, Jonesboro won the GIII Razorback H. at Oaklawn and as a 7-year-old, declared victory in both the GII Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. and the GIII Texas Mile S. at Lone Star Park. He began his stud career in 2011 and finished it at Lake Hamilton Equine in Royal, Arkansas.

Upon his arrival in 2022, Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends said, “Like most of us, Jonesboro owes a lot to his mother. Mom's Command was owned by Peter Fuller, who also campaigned Dancer's Image. Peter contributed $500 to Old Friends when we first started. And his daughter, Abby, who rode Mom, is a lifelong friend.”

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