Chilean champion Santona has died, according to a release from Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm. The 25-year-old mare was euthanized at Park Equine Hospital at Woodford on May 5 due to complications from colic.
Santona had been pensioned at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, since 2011. Michael Blowen, founder and President of Old Friends, made the announcement of her passing today.
Bred in Chile by Haras Santa Isabel, Santona (Winning – Syracuse, by Sharp-Eyed Quillo) won the Grade 1 Las Oaks at Club Hipico De Santiago in 1997. That year she was named Champion grass mare in Chile, and was then brought to the United States in 1998 by owner-breeder Earle I. Mack.
Campaigned by Mack and trainer Jimmy Jerkins for four starts in New York, Santona never regained her top race form and was retired to the breeding shed.
Her colt by Grand Slam, Grand Hombre, won the Pennsylvania Derby in 2003 and earned over $900,000.
“Mr. Mack adored Santona, and Old Friends was honored to care for her for these last years,” said Blowen. “She was extremely intelligent and very competitive. She will be missed by all of her mare friends and human caretakers.”
Read more about the passing of Chilean champion Santona on Blood Horse: https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233553/chilean-champ-old-friends-resident-santona-euthanized