Major Winner Lite Light Dead

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Lite Light, a four-time grade I winner, was euthanized May 5 after delivering a Mineshaft   filly at Edward P. Evans' Spring Hill Farm near Casanova, Va. The 19-year-old daughter of Majestic Light ruptured her uterine artery. Her newborn has been placed with a nurse mare.

Lite Light was bred in Kentucky by Dr. R. Smiser West and his wife, Kathryn, in partnership with Hall of Fame trainer MacKenzie Miller and his wife, Martha, and sold to Jack Finley for $35,000 at the 1989 Keeneland September yearling sale. Racing for Finley, Lite Light won three graded stakes, including the 1991 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita, before being sold privately to Oaktown Stable. Oaktown consisted of the family of rap singer M.C. Hammer.

In her first start for Oaktown, Lite Light won the Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I), then took the Fantasy Stakes (gr. II) and the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), by 10 lengths. After finishing second by a nose to Meadow Star in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I), Lite Light avenged that loss with a seven-length victory over her in the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I).

It turned out that was her last win. She made 10 more starts after the CCA Oaks, and the best she could do was place four times. She retired with eight wins from 26 starts and earnings of $1,231,596.

Carl Icahn purchased Lite Light in the name of his Foxfield in foal to Gone West for $750,000 at the 1998 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Six years later, Evans bought Lite Light in foal to Vindication for $675,000 at the 2004 Keeneland November sale from Trackside Farm, agent for Foxfield.

Lite Light, out of the In Reality mare Printing Press, produced 10 named foals, four of which were winners. They included English group II winner Saddad (by Gone West) and Japanese group winner Gaily Egret (by Storm Cat). She also is the dam of a Grand Slamyearling filly. Her Vindication 2-year-old colt, Light Sentence, is being sent to Churchill Downs for training and will be conditioned by Bobby Frankel.

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