Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is deeply saddened to announce Aug. 28 that Sarava, the upset winner of the 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1), has died due to complications from a leg fracture.
Sarava, who was 24 years old, was the first classic winner to be retired to the farm in September 2012, thanks to his owners, Gary Drake and Paul and Susan Roy of Great Britain.
Bred by Bill Entenmann's Timber Bay Farm, Sarava, who was by Wild Again and out of Rhythm of Life, by Deputy Minister, was foaled in Kentucky on March 2, 1999.
Sarava, which is a Brazilian greeting that means "good luck," began his racing career in Europe in 2001 as a 2-year-old, where he ran three times, but never finished in the money.
He was then sent to back to the United States and won his first start stateside in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs Nov. 21, 2001 for trainer Burk Kessinger Jr.
Sarava then returned to the races as a sophomore with a new trainer, Ken McPeek, and after a minor injury kept him off the Derby trail, scored the best accomplishments of his career. Before his upset Belmont victory, he notched the first stakes win of his career in the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness day undercard at Pimlico Race Course.
His next race, however, is the one that put him into the history books when he upset the field and won the 2002 Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, Sarava, off at 70-1 odds, raced near pacesetter Medaglia d'Oro throughout the race after War Emblem, who was attempting to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, stumbled at the start.
Guided by Prado, Sarava took the lead coming out of the final turn, and at the wire got the win by a half-length over Medaglia d'Oro to become the longest shot ever to win the Belmont Stakes. He paid $142.50, $50.00, and $22.40.
Sarava concluded his racing career with a record of 3-3-0 and earnings of $773,832 from 17 starts.
He began his stud career in 2005 at Cloverleaf Farms in Florida and then was moved to Martin Stables South in 2007. He stood at Double Diamond Farm in 2010, and finished his stud career at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, Fla. His best progeny included stakes winner Gladding, as well as stakes-placed runners Gorgeous Melody, Star of Sarava, and Sarava's Dancer.
"It's a sad day for our family and friends," said owner Gary Drake when he heard the news. "We've all been Sarava fans since we met him in 2001. When you get into horse racing, you hope to have the opportunity to be involved with a horse like this. I mean it's cliché, but people say it all the time, they (the horses) take you places you would never go otherwise, and certainly Sarava did that for us."
"Sarava attracted so many fans to Old Friends," said Michael Blowen, president and founder of Old Friends. "Most recently, a horse player said he bought a condo in Ft. Myers with his winnings from that race. But, to us, he was a lot more than the longest shot in the history of the Belmont Stakes who defeated fellow Old Friends retiree, War Emblem. He was proud, independent and, in his way, very lovable.
"And you can't buy that ... even at $142.50. We thank owner Gary Drake and friend Tom Bozarth for allowing us to care for Sarava for more than a decade."
