French Champion Jolypha Dead

Jolypha, a French champion who ran third in the 1992 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) in her first dirt start, died March 26 after foaling an Empire Maker colt at Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms near Lexington. The 16-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Lyphard ruptured an intestine during the delivery. Empire Maker stands at Juddmonte.

"She was really a beautiful mare, a real looker, but experienced hard luck with her foals," said farm manager Garrett O'Rourke.

Only two of Jolypha's eight foals, 3-year-olds and up, have won.

Bred and raced by Juddmonte, Jolypha was France's 1992 champion 3-year-old filly at 9 1/2 to 11 furlongs after winning the Prix de Diane Hermes (Fr-I, the French Oaks) and the Prix Vermeille Escada (Fr-I). She also ran second in the Prix Saint-Alary (Fr-I).

Jolypha arrived that October to contest the Classic at Gulfstream Park. She finished behind A.P. Indy and Pleasant Tap, both subsequent male champions. Six years earlier, her full brother, Dancing Brave, ran fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) as the heavy favorite. Jolypha's effort earned the filly a third-place finish in Eclipse Award balloting for best 3-year-old filly.

Jolypha was sent to trainer Bobby Frankel in Southern California to race in 1993. Returned to grass racing, she won once and was second in the Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IT) in four starts. She retired with four wins from 10 starts and earnings of $988,691.

Jolypha, whose, Navajo Princess, was by Drone, produced a total of 11 foals, all consecutively. Her 2-year-old, an Aptitude filly named Apartment, is in training at Juddmonte. Jolypha's yearling filly is by Chester House.