Shanghai Bobby: the son of Harlan's Holiday was unbeaten at two
PICTURE: Jessie Holmes/EquiSport Photos
REIGNING US champion two-year-old sire Harlan's Holiday was euthanased at Haras Firmamento in Argentina on Friday following the sudden loss of use of his hind end. He was 14.
The multiple Grade 1 winner, who has stood the past three northern hemisphere seasons at WinStar Farm in Kentucky, collapsed in his stable after returning from a cover and suffered an intestinal prolapse, leading to shock.
Despite multiple attempts to repair the prolapse, Harlan's Holiday was euthanased.
The news came shortly after his son Into Mischief sired the winner of Friday's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Goldencents.
"This is a horrible tragedy," said WinStar Farm general manager Chris Baker. "There is some comfort in knowing that I was at Firmamento just two weeks ago and found Harlan's Holiday to be the picture of health receiving the highest standard of care.
"In the end, we are greatly saddened by this loss, not only for the shareholders but also for the breed."
Harlan's Holiday was perhaps best known as the sire of 2012 champion juvenile and Eclipse Award winner Shanghai Bobby, winner of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile - having beaten Goldencents by five lengths on his previous outing to land the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes.
By Harlan out of the Affirmed mare Christmas In Aiken, Harlan's Holiday topped the juvenile sires' table in 2012 with a record-breaking haul of $2,954,556 amassed by his progeny, and looks on course to recapture that title in 2013.
During his own time on the track Harlan's Holiday won six of 16 lifetime starts, including the Florida Derby - one of the three top-flight wins. Trained by Ken McPeek at two and three for Starlight Stable, he switched to the barn of Todd Pletcher at four, completing his Grade 1 hat-trick in Gulfstream Park's Donn Handicap.
Retiring at five as the winner of $3,632,664, Harlan's Holiday initially stood at Airdrie Stud for a fee of $17,500. He was available this year for $35,000.
"It was an honour and a privilege to own Harlan's Holiday throughout his racing career," said Starlight Racing's Jack Wolf. "He gave my family and our partners many thrills, and helped deepen our appreciation of the equine industry. It is a sad day for all involved."
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