Sorted Winners Child Lima Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners announced on March 10 after sustaining a serious injury in her cage on the evening of March 9.
“We’re not sure what happened,” said Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbreds. “The night watchman on duty found her lying in her cage. It’s not clear if she was in pain or injured. It was a very difficult situation in black and white. None of us wanted to face this. , but it’s certainly (it’s) the most humane thing to do under those circumstances.”
We are heartbroken to report Con Lima suffered a serious injury in her stall last night and had to be made vegetarian. Con Lima is the epitome of all that is good about thoroughbred racehorses and our hearts go out to her, our partners, her breeders and all who care. about this big gala dinner. pic.twitter.com/GUPeAv64jh
– Eclipse Purebred Partner (@EclipseTBP) March 10, 2022
The Commissioner promising early in her first two starts at Gulfstream Park for trainer Carlos David and owners Joseph F. Graffeo, Eric Nikolaus Del Toro, and Troy Johnson, then Eclipse Thoroughbreds took an interest in her. Transitioning to Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher, she was later placed in the PG Johnson Stocks and Our Dear Stocks. In January of her 3-year-old campaign, she repeated her Gulfstream victory in Ginger Brew Stakes and later that month was runner-up in Sweetest Chant Stakes (G3T). On her next outing, she won the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T) and followed that up fourth in Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).
Con Lima continued to demonstrate her existential power with her victory in the Honey Ryder Stakes, then claimed the Wonder Again Stakes (G3T) at Belmont Park. She ended her school year in New York with second place in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and winning the following month in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T). From 13 starts, she set a 7-5-0 record with $884,865 in earnings.
Bred in Texas by Lisa Kuhlmann, Con Lima didn’t win Unified person mare Second Street City.. She is a 2-year-old, 2-year-old Texas crossbreed champion in 2020 and named in 2021 as Horse of the Year in Texas and 3-year-old crossbreed Texas champion.
She was purchased for $15,000 by VC Corp from Grape Lot at a Breeding Stock Sale in November 2018 in Keeneland before twice failing to meet her reserves in subsequent auctions.
Wellman said, “This kind of rich-to-riches story is hard to come by. “We’re living in a bubble and she’s so special to us in our organization, but when a horse like her touches the hearts of so many fans, it’s touching. She’s one of the best and hopefully we can remember her legacy and try and find more like her, if we can.”
