Noble Causeway, sire of dual Grade 3 victor and Belmont Stakes contender
Samraat, was euthanized Tuesday evening. The 12-year-old chestnut, who stood at
Sequel Stallions New York, had been suffering from laminitis in recent weeks and
was withdrawn from service in early May. His condition deteriorated and he was
euthanized Tuesday evening.
“He was a brave
and determined patient, but his condition deteriorated markedly in the last 12
hours. We decided to spare him further pain,” explained Wally Burleson, farm
manager at Sequel Stallions New York.
Campaigned by Len Riggio’s My Meadowview Farm, Noble Causeway entered stud in
2008 following a successful career on track. The son of Giant’s Causeway racked
up $360,010 in earnings while compiling an 18-3-6-1 scorecard.
“With heavy hearts, we send our condolences to Mr. Riggio and the rest of the My
Meadowview connections,” Burleson added. “Noble Causeway has always been a special favorite of the
Sequel team. We are definitely going to miss him. Hopefully, Samraat will carry
the torch so we’ll be able to enjoy his influence for many years to come.”
“Noble Causeway provided our family with more joy than we could ever
imagine,” the Riggio family said in a statement. “His passing occurred on the
eve of his becoming the outstanding sire we always believed him to be. He taught
us to dream and, now, we can only dream of what that future might have been. He
was loved and will be greatly missed, but his memory remains with us forever.”
Bred in Kentucky by Reiko and Michael Baum, Riggio purchased Noble Causeway
for $1.15 million at the
2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. From his sire’s first crop and the first
registered foal out
of Seeking the Gold mare Mimi’s Golden Girl, the chestnut was trained by Nick Zito
to placings in the Florida Derby and Ben Ali Stakes. He also finished fourth in
the Suburban, Gulfstream Park and Skip Away Handicaps.
Noble Causeway, who stood the 2014 season for $5,000 at Sequel Stallions near
Hudson, New York, currently ranks fourth on the New York general sire list, with 2014
earnings of $1,133,180. For his career with four crops of racing age, he has sired
79 winners and 12 stakes horses with lifetime earnings of $3,932,485.
Among his leading progeny is My Meadowview Farm’s homebred Samraat, undefeated
in his first five starts, including the Gotham and Withers to open his sophomore
season. The dark bay colt suffered his first loss when second in the Wood
Memorial then ran a game fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Samraat’s next start is the
June 7 Belmont Stakes.
Other of Noble Causeway’s top performers include multiple stakes winner Private Cause and stakes-placed New York-breds Noble
Cornerstone and Canal Six, as well as international performers Noble Killer and Eccole
Qua.