Fortunate Prospect, a top sprinter and broodmare sire, was euthanized due to complications of old age March 15 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky. The son of Northern Prospect out of the Lucky Debonair mare Fortunate Bid was 31.
According to Old Friends president and founder Michael Blowen, veterinarian Dr. Doug Byars arrived at the farm within minutes of Fortunate Prospect showing signs of distress and advised euthanasia after a thorough examination.
Bred in Florida by the M & M Bloodstock agency, Fortunate Prospect was a graded stakes winning sprinter with 39 starts and 13 wins, including the San Vicente Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita and the Equus Handicap at Garden State Park. His earnings totaled $439,875.
Following his racing career, Fortunate Prospect spent nearly two decades at Michael Sherman’s Farnsworth Farms near Ocala, Fla., where he was a successful sire. He sired 537 winners, 28 of them stakes victors. His 632 runners, including top filly Fortunate Card and chief earner Suave Prospect, have earned nearly $38 million on the track. He was the leading Florida sire in 1995.
The stallion also gained recognition over the years as a solid broodmare sire: His daughter, Successful Dancer, is the dam of multiple stakes winner Successful Appeal . Daughters of Fortunate Prospect have produced three Kentucky Derby (gr. I) contenders in the last five years, including Z Fortune (2008), Musket Man (2009), and 2012 hopeful Mark Valeski .
His daughter, Flambe, produced recent Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) winner Ron the Greek.
“Grandpa was our oldest retiree and one of our flagship residents,” said Blowen. “He was incredibly gentle and was beloved by everyone at Old Friends and by every visitor. He was the kindest, sweetest stallion we've ever had, and he will be greatly missed.
“His offspring are still filling race cards all over the country and we’re incredibly happy to have been a part of his amazing legacy.”
A recent video about the stallion was produced by WinPlaceShow.com and can be seen on YouTube.