Alphabet Soup has arrived!

Breeders' Cup Sprint Champion Alphabet Soup (Photo by Barbara Fossum)

GEORGETOWN, KY - OCTOBER 26, 2015 - Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, KY, is happy to announce that Breeders' Cup Champion Alphabet Soup has been pensioned at the farm.

The gray son of Cozzene out of the Arts and Letters mare Illiterate, Alphabet Soup was a late bloomer for owner Georgia B Ridder, winning his first stakes at age 4 when he captured the 1995 Grade 3 Native Diver and the Grade 2 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap.

In 1996 he was the victor in the San Antonia Handicap (GR2), the Pat O'Brian Handicap (GR3) and the San Pasqual Handicap (GR2) en route to his greatest triumph, the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic (GR1), where he defeated the "invincible" Cigar as well as that year's Preakness Stakes winner Louis Quatorze-all while setting a new track record at Woodbine.

Retired in 1998 to Adena Springs having captured 10 of 24 starts and earnings of over $2.9 million, Alphabet Soup has since sired 48 stakes winners, among them Grade 1 winners Egg Drop and Alphabet Kisses, champions Our New Recruit, Phantom Light and Sovereign Award winner Alpha Bettor.

"He arrived safely today and looks terrific," said Old Friends President and founder Michael Blowen. "We are so grateful to Frank Stronach and everyone at Adena Springs for entrusting us with this fabulous champion," he added. "We're really looking forward to meeting his fans."

For additional information about Alphabet Soup or any of the retirees at Old Friends, please call the farm at (502) 863-1775.

Hi Derby. Any chance they can go to Old Friends at Cabin Creek?  Its only a 30 minute van ride from McMahon's Thoroughbreds!... Lol. I was there this past Saturday. I had a great visit with Joann. I met Be Bullish. .. You remember...(He was the 9 year old gray that Mike Repole claimed from Jacobson and was retired.)  He is a beauty and such a sweet horse. He hit the jackpot living there ..and he liked smelling my hair .  They all got tons of treats from me.  

I guess i'm too late!  I didnt know Alphabet Soup wasn't at McMahons anymore. I should have checked their stallion roster. 

Mixed Pleasure euthanized due to colic. RIP sweet boy:

GEORGETOWN, KY - OCTOBER 27, 2015 - Mixed Pleasure has died.The 30-year-old resident of Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, was euthanized Monday evening due to complications from colic.

Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, made the announcement of his passing this afternoon.

Mixed Pleasure, who was a great-great grandson of the great Seabiscuit, had been pensioned at Old Friends since 2012 after being saved by Charlotte Farmer and the nationwide advocacy group Equi-Army-NDO.com. The stallion had stood at Grand Trine Farm in Molalla, OR, and was one of 14 horses seized by the rescue group when former owners attempted to place them for sale in an auction.

A moderately successful racehorse, Mixed Pleasure (Sucha Pleasure - Sea I'm Lucky, Windy Sea) was campaigned by Mel Stute and won five of his 22 starts, earning over $140,000 in his career. As a two-year-old Mixed Pleasure captured the Won Ford Juvenile Stakes as well as the Kindergarten Stakes. He then place second in the GR2 Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes and was third in the GR3 Balboa.

His dam, Sea I'm Lucky, was by Windy Sea, who was out of Sea Anemone, a daughter of Seabiscuit. Mixed Pleasure was presumed to be the oldest living descendant of the Depression-Era hero.

I am so happy War Emblem is back home!!

Linda J.

Northeast Philly

War Emblem has arrived at Old Friends;

https://mobile.twitter.com/Oldfriendsfarm/status/673216051044315136/photo/1

 Great news. i know OF is elated to finally have WE on the farm. A nice Christmas gift.

KLB

I saw a short video clip of him yesterday in his new paddock and he looked gorgeous.