Louisiana Stallion Afternoon Deelites Sidelined

Afternoon Deelites, who stands at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom, La., has been relieved of stallion duty for this season because of a bad reaction to a strangles vaccination. According to farm manager Val Murrell, Afternoon Deelites' fertility declined following the vaccination. Murrell expects it to return to normal in several months and for the stallion to be at full strength next year.

A two-time grade I winner, Afternoon Deelites has sired 14 stakes winners, including such graded winners as Miss Pickums, Three Hour Nap, and Lovely Afternoon. He ranks second on this year's Louisiana sires list by progeny earnings and has career progeny earnings close to $15 million.

Fourteen-year-old Afternoon Deelites (Private Terms--Intimate Girl, by Medaille d'Or) formerly stood at Brereton C. Jones' Airdrie Stud near Midway, Ky. Airdrie retains a major interest in Afternoon Deelites, who stood this year for $4,000.