Silic, 1999 BC Mile Winner, Sire, Dies

Pacific Coast Thoroughbreds and Dr. Ben and Kayleeta Davis have announced the death of their stallion Silic. Chronic renal failure was the cause of death for the 18-year-old son of Sillery (by Blushing Groom).

Bred in France by M. Armenio Simoes de Almeida and out of the Sadler's Wells mare Balletomane, Silic was a group III winner in France at 3 and a two-time grade I winner in the U.S. Trained stateside by Julio Canani for Terry Lanni, Ken Poslosky, and Bernie Schiappa, the rich bay Silic won the 1999 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Gulfstream Park.

With Corey Nakatani up, Silic covered the mile in 1:34.26, defeating a field that included Tuzla, Docksider, Lend A Hand, Hawksley Hill, Brave Act, Delay of Game, Kirkwall, Jim and Tonic, Middlesex Drive, Khumba Mela, Susu, Garbu, and Quiet Resolve.

Silic closed out his racing career the following season with his lone start at 5 in the Shoemaker Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park. He also won the Shoemaker in 1999 when it was a grade II and landed that year's Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IIIT). He placed in a pair of listed stakes in France.

Plagued by quarter cracks, Silic made just 15 starts in four years on the track, earning $1,422,299 from a slate of 8-2-0.

Silic began his stud career in 2001 at Crestwood Farm in Central Kentucky and stood there for six seasons before moving to California. From 2007-11 he stood at Getaway Farm and then stood at Pacific Coast Thoroughbreds near Hemet, Calif., the last two years.

The sire of 159 foals, Silic sired a pair of stakes winners in Gladiatorus and P D Q Kiddo. Gladiatorus was named champion older male in Italy and the UAE and won three group races: the 2009 Dubai Duty Free Sponsored by Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I), the Premio Vittorio di Capua (It-I), and the Commercial Bank of Dubai Al Fahidi Fort (UAE-II).  P D Q Kiddo won the Milwaukee Avenue Handicap and placed in four additional stakes races.

According to the farm, Silic had been under treatment of his kidney disease for several years. Silic maintained his stud duties until the middle of this year's breeding season, at which time his health began to fail, settling only six mares.