WinStar Farm Sire Laoban Dies Unexpectedly Sponsored by:
Laoban, sire of Breeders Futurity runner-up Keepmeinmind
Laoban, a leading second-crop sire, has died unexpectedly, WinStar Farm announced today.
The 8-year-old son of Uncle Mo had relocated to WinStar Farm last year from Sequel Stallions in New York and was standing his initial season at WinStar.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that we lost Laoban this morning,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar s president, CEO, and racing manager. “He had quickly become one of our favorite stallions, and it s sad that we will not have the opportunity to see how influential he could have been as a sire. His passing will leave a tremendous void for all of us, and he will be greatly missed.”
In Stakes Debut, Secret Love Posts $28 Upset In Franklin Square Sponsored by:
Secret Love recorded her initial stakes victory in the Franklin Square for New York-breds
Secret Love handled her first stakes appearance – and first start on an off track – with a strong stretch-drive move, with the field s longest shot outkicking 3-5 favorite Laobanonaprayer by 1 1/2 lengths to capture Saturday s $100,000 Franklin Square for New York-bred 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.
Owned by Nedlaw Stable and Tobey Morton, Secret Love won her debut in September going six furlongs at Belmont Park. After running second at the same distance on December 20 at the Big A, trainer John Kimmel moved the Not This Time filly up in class in the seventh running of the 6 ½-furlong Franklin Square.