The two-time Grade 1 winner Afternoon Deelites was euthanized February 14 at Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement ranch based in Kentucky, due to complications from colic. He was 31.
Old Friends chairman and founder, Michael Blowen, announced his passing. The black horse, the ranch’s oldest resident and just two weeks away from his 32nd birthday, is owned by award-winning composer, Burt Bacharach, who passed away on February 8.
Bred by Bacharach’s Blue Seas Music, son of Personal Terms—Dear Girl, of Medaille d’Or, was born in West Virginia on February 28, 1992. During his entire racing career He was owned by Bacharach, trained by Richard Mandella, and ridden by Kent Desormeaux. He ran nine of his 12 races at the West Coast track.
Afternoon Deelites opened his racing career spectacularly, winning the first five races between 1994 and 1995; four of them participate in the race.
He won his debut at the age of 2 in 1994, entering his first special weight class race at Santa Anita . Park October 23. Next appearance, he won the Hollywood Prevue Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) to win his first graded bet, followed by Hollywood Futurity (G1) for the win. his first rank. In that race, he beat future Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Thunder Gulch.
In 1995, at the age of 3, Afternoon Deelites continued their winning streak with victories at the San Vicente Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G3) and the San Felipe Stakes (G2). His last win in 1995 was Malibu Stakes (G1). Also, that year, he finished second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and eighth in the Kentucky Derby behind Thunder Gulch.
At the age of 4 in 1996, Afternoon Deelites won one of his four races, the Commonwealth Breeder’s Cup (G2) at Keeneland. In the next race, which will be his final career start, he finished second in Urban Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.
After that race, Afternoon Deelites retired with seven wins, three seconds, and $1,061,193 in 12 career starts. He entered 11 graded bet races, winning six.
Afternoon Deelites enrolled in 1997 at Brereton Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Midway, Ky., and remained there until 2003. He then moved to Clear Creek Stud, in Folsom, La., where he stood in the rest of his career.
The Top Descendants of Afternoon Deelites include graded bet winners Zappa , Take a three-hour nap And Miss Pickums . He also gave birth to Popcorn Deelites, the recently deceased Old Friends retiree who starred in the 2003 film Seabiscuit, based on the bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand.
Afternoon Deelites was retired in 2011, and was later sent to Old Friends with the help of Val Murrell of Clear Creek Stud.
“Afternoon Deelites is a beautiful friend,” Blowen said. “I remember Kent Desormeaux standing in front of his stall a few years ago and saying ‘Michael, I won the Kentucky Derby on Sunday. It’s so quiet , Flying Horse Fusaichi And big brown , and this is the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden.’ And he’s one of the best retirees ever to call Old Friends home.
“Thank you to Burt, his ex-wife, Angie Dickinson, and his widow, Jane, for loving Afternoon Deelites as much as we do.”
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
