Perhaps the spring brings more highs and lows to racing than any other time. There's the hope of brilliance as three year olds mature and find (or lose) what it takes to be a champion. There's disappointment, such as The Pamplemousse being scratched just before the Santa Anita Derby due to soreness and a concern on one leg - good for the horse but nonetheless disappointing. There's the buzz of a two year old by Songandaprayer who sizzled an eighth of a mile in 9.4 seconds at Keeneland Then there's the even more extreme off the track - the ushering in of a new generation of foals and too often saying goodbye to others.
Weekend in Indy, dam of Any Given Saturday and Bohemian Lady was bred to Distorted Humor for a full sibling to Any Given Saturday but the 14 year old mare had foaling complications and died along with her foal in mid January. There is a yearling colt and 3 year old filly, both by Distorted Humor.
There's the unfortunate reminder that for all they've done they're still just horses when one of the top 2 year olds of 2001, Saarland, was euthanized after injuries from running into a feeder. His daughter Saarlight had just a few days earlier won a stakes at Laurel, and Saarland himself had been pensioned for fertiity issues.
Grade I winner Got Koko had a respectable career including in the Lady's Secret Breeders Cup Handicap where she won over Azeri. The daughter of Signal Tap delivered a Bernardini foal March 4 and died from foaling complications. The foal survived. She was just 10 years old and highlights that every foaling is a risk. Too often people who "love their horse (usually an ordinary mare" and want to breed never consider she could die. Even in the best of circumstances with experienced people and top vets they can die. Got Koko earned three Texas championships and was Horse of the Year there in 2003.
Ridden In The Stars, dam of Silver Train, was found dead in her paddock, in foal to Bluegrass Cat and due 20 days later. She has a yearling by Bernardini who is slated for the September Keeneland sale.
Grade II winner Snow Dance, by Forest Wildcat and out of a daughter of Spectacular Bid, was euthanized after colic surgery. She was in foal to Street Cry, and produced just 2 named foals, From Scratch is a winner in Japan whie the other is a 2 year old, Monarch Pass, by Monarchos.
