Old Friends, of Georgetown, Ky., is sad to announce that Even scores , a two-time graded stakes winner, was euthanized at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital on April 13 due to abdominal pain. He is 26 years old.
The beautiful gray or roan horse has been at Old Friends since March 30, 2023, thanks to his owners, Rosendo “Ro” Parra and Morgan Kei, who interned at Parra’s Millennium Ranch when studied at the University of Kentucky and looked after Even the Scorer there.
John Nicholson, president and CEO of Old Friends. “We will miss this fine horse and will always honor his memory.”
“Even The Score is a special horse to our family,” Parra said. My wife and I were in tears when we heard the news that he had to be put down. Even The Score is our first graded stakes winner. We are so grateful to Old Friends for taking care of him over the past year.”
Bred by Aspirs Stable, Even the Score, sired by Unbridled’s Song and out of Ashtabula, by Rahy, was born in Kentucky on April 2, 1998.
Even Score began his racing career as a 3-year-old in 2001 and quickly won his first start, a first-ever special weight race at Churchill Downs June 27 for coach Dallas Stewart and owner Thomas Vanderhyde.
A winner of multiple allowance races in 2001, 2002 and 2003, he scored his first stakes win in the Mardi Gras Handicap at Slots & slot machines at Fair Grounds Race when he was 5 years old in 2003.
He was purchased privately by Parra before the start of his 6-year-old racing season and moved to trainer Vladimir Cerin’s barn in California, and in the first race for his new connections finished third in San Bernardino Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Even Score then won two races, capturing the two biggest races of his career, the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park and the Californian Stakes (G2) at Hollywood Park.
With those wins, he was one of the favorites in the next race, the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), but finished third. Next, he was preparing for the Pacific Classic (G1), but suffered an injury and had to retire.
He recovered from that injury in good shape and was returned to training and preparation for the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) when he sustained another injury and was out of action for good. He finished his racing career with a record of 9-1-9 in 29 starts and earnings of $751,628.
Even Score started his stud career in 2005 at Millennium Farms near Lexington and stood there until his retirement in 2020. Throughout his stud career, he sired several winners stakes wins and bettors, most notably the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and the classic winning Pacific Millionaire (G1) Dullahan ; and Secretariat (G1T) and Jamaica (G1T) Handicap winner Get points.
In 2023, Even the Score was sent to Old Friends thanks to the help of Kei, who took care of the horse after the sale of Millennium Farm.
“Even Score is very special to us, not only because of his great racing achievements but also because of his lovely personality,” Kei said. “He was never shy about visiting me in exchange for a mint (or two). He was much loved and will be missed by many.”
Even though it’s only been at the farm for a little over a year, Even the Score has already made quite an impression on the farm’s staff and visitors alike.
“Even Score is very easygoing—no ego like many of our other stallions,” says Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends. “I’m sorry he didn’t live with us a little longer.”
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
