When Goulash’s Unbridled's Song colt brought $925,000 to top the opening session of the Keeneland September yearling auction Sept. 14, the prognosis for the Mari’s Book mare looked grim. She is battling laminitis, and there were concerns she would need to be euthanized just days after her son had been sold.
But Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency, which sold the colt, had some good news Sept. 17. The condition of Goulash, who also is the dam of two-time champion Ashado, had improved, “so we’re giving her some more time,” he said. “She’s actually doing pretty good right now. She’s eating well, and she’s comfortable, but she continues to have setbacks as a lot of times these horses (with laminitis) do. We’re doing everything we can to keep her going.”
A 16-year-old daughter of Mari’s Book, Goulash scored in the 1996 Las Ninas Stakes at Fairplex Park in California. She is owned by Taylor's longtime clients Aaron and Marie Jones. In addition to Ashado, the champion 3-year-old filly in 2004 and the champion older female in 2005, Goulash has produced Sunriver, who captured the 2007 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IT), and Saint Stephen, who won the 2006 Native Diver Handicap (gr. III). All three of Goulash’s stakes-winning offspring were sired by Saint Ballado.
Sunriver died at age 6 Aug. 25. At the time he was standing at stud at Empire Stud near Hudson, N.Y.
According to Taylor, chronic arthritis caused Goulash’s left front ankle to deteriorate, so the joint was surgically fused in procedure known as an arthrodesis. She developed laminitis in her right front foot. The Jockey's Club's records don't show that Goulash produced a foal this year, and she wasn't bred this past spring because of her fragile health.
“I think there is a good chance of that,” said Taylor when asked if Goulash would be retired as a broodmare.
“She’s a great mare and a tough mare, and she handles things well. I think she’s got a shot (to survive),” Taylor said. “It’s kind of a wait and see thing and depends on how she progresses.”