Pin Oak Stud’s thoroughbred stallion died of natural causes on September 3 at its birthplace, the ranch established by the late owner/breeder Josephine Abercrombie. He is 25 years old.
The son of the Unbridled out of the Nijinsky II, Wedding Vow winner, who is also a hybrid of Pin Oak, won or placed in six classified stakes and captured three unclassed shares among them. 14 career starts.
Trained by Graham Motion, Broken Vow won Philip H. Iselin Bets (G2) and Ben Ali Bets (G3), placed second in the Meadowlands Cup Handicap (G2) and Fayette Bets (G3), and finished at the same time. third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) and Massachusetts Handicap (G3) both in 2001, before retiring with $725,296 in career earnings.
“He was a hugely influential horse in my career and probably my first ‘big’ horse,” says Motion. “I’m so glad I visited him in his field this past spring. He’s a happy horse in retirement. This is truly the end of an era.”
Broken Vow stood for about 20 years at Pin Oak and retired among North America’s top 25 males with a career of 15% being black performers from the start.
He selected 81 black winners worldwide and six champions including the 2016 Eclipse champion, the 2-year-old Champagne room who won 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup 2016 (G1).
His five other graded winners/groups include millionaires Belle can’t hold back , Silly image , Flower , Rosalind and Emerging talent. Broken Vow was also an exceptional brood, whose daughters produced 41 black type winners, including 10 graded/group winners and four champions. He’s the sire of the Eclipse 2015 champion sprinter, millionaire and top 10 top three bulls Runhappy .
Longtime manager Clifford Barry said: “Words cannot describe the loss of Broken Vow to everyone here at Pin Oak. “We were with him from birth to breakup, his races and his student career.
“As we reflect on the many wonderful memories he has provided, the way we cheer him on in Pin Oak’s royal gray and blue silks, and we cheer even louder for the band. his cubs as if they were ours and to the loyal herdsmen who have supported him,” continued Barry. “He was a very special horse to be around — smart, classy. and has a great will to succeed. And if he could speak, he would say thank you to the vets and groomers who took care of him throughout his life. It’s testament to Miss Abercrombie’s Program that he’s spent his life here on the ranch. I know she will feed him sugar again. “
Abercrombie died January 5 at his home in Pin Oak at the age of 95.
Broken Vow will be buried with Pin Oak stallions formerly Sky Classic, Peaks and Valleys, and Maria’s Mon.
