Halory Hunter, who won the 1998 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. II), died as a result of foundering Aug. 20. The 12-year-old son of Jade Hunter had stood the past two breeding seasons at W.L. Mooring's Double LL Farm near Bosque, N.M.
Trained by Nick Zito, Halory Hunter won or placed in eight of 10 races for Rick Pitino's Celtic Pride Stable. Five of those top three efforts came in graded stakes.
Halory Hunter placed in the Florida Derby (gr. I) and the Moet Champagne (gr. I), Remsen (gr. II), and Fountain of Youth (gr. II) Stakes. Following the Blue Grass, he ran a solid fourth in Real Quiet's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) as one of the favorites in what was his last start.
Halory Hunter stood in Kentucky, Iowa, and New York before standing at Double LL. His four stakes winners include Halory Leigh, who won the 2004 Falls City (gr. II) and Churchill Downs Distaff (gr. II) Handicaps. Halory Hunter's runners have earned $4.4 million.
Bred in Kentucky by Elmendorf Farm, Halory Hunter is one of five graded or group winners from the Halo mare Halory. The group includes Van Nistelrooy, whose $6.4 million price at the 2001 Keeneland September yearling sale was the highest that year for a yearling.
