Mr. Greeley enjoyed a superlative weekend Oct. 8-9 as three of the deceased stallion’s runners proved best at the highest level of racing.
The Coolmore runner Crusade was the first. The colt, trained by Aidan O’Brien for Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, won the Emaar Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) at Newmarket Oct. 8.
Stateside Oct. 9, the 3-year-old colt Western Aristocrat and the 4-year-old filly Aruna swung into action. Western Aristocrat, racing as a homebred for Tom Simon’s Vinery, won the Jamaica Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park in his first start since his recent overseas arrival to become his sire’s 57th stakes winner.
Aruna, a homebred racing for Flaxman Holdings, got the grade I victory that had eluded her earlier in the Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga when she won the Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland. The Juddmonte Spinster was Aruna’s fourth stakes win.
The three grade/group I winners pushed Mr. Greeley’s career total to 11. His earlier stars include Cartier Award winner Finsceal Beo.
Mr. Greeley, who stood the last part of his career at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington, was euthanized last November because of complications from laminitis. The son of Gone West out of the Reviewer mare Long Legend was 18.
