Grade 1-winning sires YANKEE VICTOR (Saint Ballado) and THE GROOM IS RED
(Runaway Groom), who had been standing at the Korean Racing Association’s Jeju
Stud Farm, have died recently, according to a report on
korearacing.wordpress.com.
The Groom Is Red suffered a paddock accident on January 27, sustained
multiple fractures, and had to be euthanized. Yankee Victor lost his battle with
colic on February 1.
Yankee Victor’s signature victory came in the 2000 Metropolitan H. (G1), but
the Carlos Morales charge also captured the Westchester H. (G3) and Rushaway S.
and placed in the Lexington S. (G2), Creme Fraiche H. (G3) and Queens County H.
(G3). Retiring with a 19-8-3-1 mark and a bankroll worth $833,806, he joined the
stallion ranks at Airdrie Stud near Midway, Kentucky.
During his five seasons at Airdrie, he sired a pair of millionaires —
globetrotting sprint star Kinsale King, who will attempt to defend his title in
the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) on March 26, and the hard-knocking
Real Dandy, hero of the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) in 2005, just a few
months before his sire’s departure for Korea.
The Groom Is Red, the winner of the 1998 Champagne S. (G1) for Hall of Fame
trainer Nick Zito, retired following his 2000 campaign with $401,153 in earnings
from his 18-4-2-2 line. He was exported to Korea to begin his stud career,
ultimately siring such top runners as Baekgwang and Triple Seven.