Havoc Angel

Eureka Live went very well, though as usual we were rushed at the end. (I blame this on the long lunch break followed by the lengthy verbal auction held by the Stones in the middle of the show.) I got lots of ribbons (and NAN cards that go with my 1st and 2nd place wins). Three of my horses won Division Champion rosettes, and two of these went on to win Overall Grand Champion trophies.

The big winners from my showstring are:

Kahlua Twist, Tennessee Walking Horse gelding (Independence resin by Sarah Rose, painted by Chris Nandell): Champion of the Artist Resin Light/Gaited Division, Overall Grand Champion Artist Resin

Anticipation, Sport Mule Molly (Breyer Halla customized & painted by Diane Capwell): Champion of the Custom Stock Horse Division, Overall Grand Champion Custom Model

Ester Rose, pregnant Miniature Horse mare (Breyer Welsh Mountain Pony stablemate, customized & painted by Chris Jolly): Champion of the Custom Pony Division

Pictures will come soon! :)

However, I'm paying for the fun today with many aches & pains, especially my hips and back. Looks like Anal-man has Strep Throat, too...

Winning Colors, last filly to win Kentucky Derby, dies at 23

By BETH CAMPBELL, Associated Press Writer February 18, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- "Winning Colors, the 1988 Kentucky Derby winner who was the last filly to win the race, has died, Gainesway thoroughbred farm said Monday. She was 23.

The roan mare was euthanized Sunday after a bout with colic and buried at Greentree Farm in Lexington, which is now part of Gainesway, Gainesway Vice President Charlie Aker said.

As a 3-year-old, Winning Colors thrilled Derby watchers when she led wire to wire under Gary Stevens, defeating Forty Niner. She also won the Grade I Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Oaks that year and finished with eight wins, three seconds and a third. Her earnings totaled $1,526,837, the farm said.

Her win at Santa Anita helped Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who bought Winning Colors as a yearling at Keeneland for the late Eugene Klein, decide she could compete with the colts at the Derby.

"She started out dominating competition in her own sex pretty handily, and we then decided that we would step out of the box and try her in the Santa Anita Derby," he told The Associated Press on Monday night.

"When she won... she was one of the best 3-year-olds in the nation," he said. "From there, we decided we were going to try it."

She was the third filly to win the Derby, after Regret in 1915 and Genuine Risk in 1980.

Gainesway purchased her in 1989 for $4 million, one of the farm's first big broodmare purchases, Aker said.

She left a 2-year-old by Orientate in training and a yearling filly by Mr. Greeley at the farm, Gainesway general manager Neil Howard said.

Her Derby win was "really special" to Lukas. She was the first of four Derby winners for him.

"The Derby winner always captivates the imagination of the race fan," he said. "But being a filly and beating the colts made it even sweeter."

One of Winning Colors' second-place finishes was in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff, where she led until the end, when Personal Ensign edged ahead to win by inches and retire undefeated in 13 starts.

"If you look back through the history books, (that is) one of the great races of all times," Lukas said."