Broodmare of the Year Primal Force Dies at 24

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Primal Force, the 2000 Broodmare of the Year and foundation mare for Frank Stronachs’s Adena Springs, died on the morning April 17 as a result of complications during foaling at the Paris, Ky. farm. She was 24. Her foal, a full sister to Macho Uno  , survived and is doing well.

A daughter of Blushing Groom out of the Mr. Prospector mare Prime Prospect, Primal Force was the dam of Breeders’ Cup winners Awesome Again   and Macho Uno   and is one of only three broodmares to produce multiple Breeders’ Cup champions.

Primal Force, bred by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone, won four races from eight starts for her owner Mrs. Firestone. She was purchased by Stronach for $95,000 as a broodmare prospect from the Three Chimneys consignment to the 1992 Keeneland January sale. 

Awesome Again, the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) winner, was Primal Force’s second foal. He retired with $4.3 million in earnings and has sired four Breeders’ Cup winners to date. Primal Force was represented by her second Breeders’ Cup winner when Macho Uno won the Juvenile (gr. I) and voted champion 2-year-old male. Both Awesome Again and Macho Uno stand at Adena Springs.

“Primal Force was the foundation mare for Adena Springs,” said Stronach in a statement. “She was part of our family and is responsible for much of the success we have had as breeders. She will be greatly missed by all of us.”

“Sunday, April 17th 2011 will be a date that this farm will always remember,” said Eric Hamelback, general manager of Adena Springs Kentucky, in a release. “Today we lost a family member. There are many of us that have been with Mr. and Mrs. Stronach for many years, giving us the opportunity to work with every foal Primal Force ever had. Losing her will be like losing a part of us. ‘Primal’ touched everyone in some way, and this loss will only be overcome by the fond memories we all have of her, and the years we spent together.”