GENUINE RISK'S DEATH
-----------------------------
On the morning of August 18, 2008, chestnut filly by Exclusive Native, Genuine Risk, passed away. She was 31 years old.
Genuine Risk had been only the second filly to win the Kentucky Derby, in 1980. In 1978, she was bought as a yearling in the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky summer yearling sale for $32,000. She was trained by LeRoy Jolley, and under jockey Jacinto Vasquez (who also rode Ruffian four years before) she won her first race as a two-year-old. She won three more, including the Tempted and Demoiselle Stakes. She then had her first taste of defeat, finishing third in the Wood Memorial against top colts. This finish lead her trainer to believe she could try out for the Derby, and try out she did.
In 1980, at age three, 12 colts ate Genuine Risk's dust in the Kentucky Derby.
The filly was second in the Preakness Stakes to Codex and second in the muddy Belmont Stakes to Temperance Hill. Despite this, she became the closest filly to winning a Triple Crown in history.
Genuine Risk finished her three-year-old season with a nose win in the Ruffian Stakes, over Misty Gallore.
At four, Genuine Risk raced only three times before she was retired due to an injury. She was disappointing as a broodmare, having been bred all the way up to 2001, but only producing two foals, Genuine Reward and Count Our Blessing. Neither colt raced.
Genuine Risk became the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner after the 1979 winner, Spectacular Bid, died. She then died only a few months after Winning Colors, the third filly to win the Kentucky Derby, died.
Genuine Risk was elected into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1986. She will always be remembered.
0 comments:
Post a Comment