Tu Endie Wei, the Sovereign Award-winning champion 2-year-old filly of 2011, died Dec. 24 in Kentucky while undergoing an operation for fibrous adhesions.
By Johar, Tu Endie Wei was a half sister to the Canadian Horse of the Year Biofuel, out of the Indian Charlie mare Ms. Cornstalk. Both champions were bred and owned by Brereton Jones and trained by Reade Baker.
As a juvenile, Tu Endie Wei broke her maiden at first asking with a five-length victory in the $150,000 My Dear Stakes at Woodbine June 25, 2011. She went on to win the Ontario Debutante and the Glorious Song stakes to sew up her championship.
During her 3-year-old campaign in 2012, she won the Star Shoot Stakes, ran second in the Selene Stakes (Can-III), was third in the Victory Ride (gr. III) at Belmont Park, and took the Seaway Stakes (Can-III) back at Woodbine. Her career record was 5-1-1 from 12 starts, with earnings of $528,005.
She had been retired to Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky.
"She meant the world to us, and this was just a devastating loss," said Bret Jones, director of bloodstock services at Airdrie. "Her first start as a 2-year-old was one of the most exciting moments we've had in racing. She drew the 13 hole and we were expecting a call saying Reade was going to scratch her, but he said, 'No, we need to give her a shot in here.' When she won by five, we knew she was a special filly."