Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce the arrival of six new horses to the farm for their retirement: Count Again, Delaunay, Mission Impazible, Normandy Invasion, Rainbow Heir, and Warrior's Reward.
"Without a doubt, this has been a banner year for new arrivals at Old Friends," said John Nicholson, President and CEO of Old Friends. "Having these horses take their place as new residents is further testimony that Old Friends continues to earn its reputation as a longstanding leader in Thoroughbred aftercare. We remain grateful to the connections of all of the 297 horses who reside at our farms and, most importantly, to the many people who contribute to Old Friends which makes it possible for us to provide such a safe and comfortable retirement for these horses, all of whom gave their best for us."
Count Again
Bred and owned by Sam-Son Farm, Count Again, who is by Awesome Again--Count to Three, by Red Ransom, was foaled on April 1, 2015 in Ontario Canada.
He began racing as a 4-year old in 2019 under the care of trainer Neil Howard for Sam-Son Farm, and won his first race in his second start in a maiden special weight race at Keeneland on Oct. 9.
In his fifth start, he was placed in the care of trainer Philip D'Amato, and owner Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm, and remained with them for the rest of his career.
His biggest career wins with them came in the Singspiel Stakes (G3) and the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) in 2020 as a 5-year old; and in the Thunder Road Stakes (G3), the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1), and the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1) in 2022 as a 7-year old.
He finished racing in 2023, and in 2024, Count Again was sent to Old Friends for his retirement. The 9-year-old bay gelding arrived at the farm on Wednesday, June 26.
Delaunay
Bred by Fitzhugh, LLC, Delaunay, who is by Smoke Glacken--Perilous Night, by Coronado's Quest, was foaled on March 1, 2007 in Maryland.
Trained by Richard Small for then owner, Fitzhugh, LLC, he began racing in 2009 as a 2-year old and won his first race in his second start, a maiden special weight race at Philadelphia Park on Sept. 15.
After some more wins in allowance and allowance optional claiming races between 2010 and 2012, he won a claiming race at Churchill Downs on May 12, 2012 as a 5-year old and was claimed by trainer Thomas Amos and owner Maggie Moss, who would be with him the rest of his career.
In his first start for them, Delaunay won his first stakes race in the Kelly's Landing Stakes (Black Type).
His other big career wins were the Temperence Hill Stakes (Black Type), and followed with the Bet on Sunshine Stakes (Black Type), and the Thanksgiving Handicap (Listed) in 2012; the F. W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes (Black Type), Duncan F. Kenner Stakes (Listed), and the Churchill Downs Stakes (G2) in 2013 as a 6-year old; his second consecutive F. W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes (Black Type), the Aristides Stakes (G3), and the Thanksgiving Handicap (Black Type) in 2014 as a 7-year old; and the Bonapaw Stakes (Black Type), which is named after another Old Friends' retiree, and the Iowa Sprint Handicap (Listed) in 2015 as an 8-year old.
In his next start, he finished third in the David M. Vance Sprint Stakes (Black Type) and was then retired. He closed out his career with 19 wins, 13 seconds, six thirds, and $1,210,321 in earnings in 54 starts.
In 2024, Moss decided to retire Delaunay to Old Friends. The 17-year-old bay gelding arrived on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from Wild Aire Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Mission Impazible
Bred by Old Friends' neighbors, Summer Wind Farm, Mission Impazible, who is by Unbridled's Song--La Paz, by Hold Your Peace, was foaled in Kentucky on March 2, 2007.
The gray stallion began his racing career as a 2-year old in 2009 in the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, and won his first time out in a maiden special weight race at Keeneland on April 16.
His biggest career wins came in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds in 2010 as a 3-year old and in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds in 2011 as a 4-year old. He also finished ninth in the 2010 Kentucky Derby.
He had his last start as a 5-year old on Nov.23, 2012 and finished fifth in the Clark Handicap (G1) at Churchill on. He retired with three wins, eight seconds, two thirds, and $1,284,949 in earnings in 21 starts.
Mission Impazible then headed to Sequel Stallions New York for his stud career from 2014-2024, and he proved to be a good stallion. According to the Sequel Stallions New York website, the gray stallion was a Top-8 Northeastern sire by progeny earnings every year since 2017.
Following the 2024 breeding season, the now 24-year old stallion was pensioned from stud duty, and it was decided to send him to Old Friends for his retirement. The 17-year old gray stallion arrived at the farm on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Normandy Invasion
Bred by Betz/Kidder/Gainesway/Graves/D.J. Stable/Cole, Normandy Invasion, who is by Tapit--Boston Lady, by Boston Harbor was foaled on May 2, 2010 in Kentucky.
Normandy Invasion began his racing career as a 2-year old in 2012 under trainer Chad Brown for owner Fox Hill Farms, Inc., and won his first race in his second start, a maiden claiming race at Aqueduct on Nov. 2.
His other top finishes were seconds in the Remsen Stakes (G2) and Wood Memorial Stakes in 2013 as a 3-year old; and a second in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) in 2014 as a 4-year old.
Following a tenth in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in 2014, he was placed in the care of trainer Larry Jones for owner Fox Hill Farms, Inc. Under Jones, he finished second in the Carl Hanford Memorial Stakes (Black Type). Two starts later, he finished seventh in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 8 and was retired. He closed his career with two wins, five seconds, and $551,900 in earnings in 12 starts.
He began his stud career in 2016 at Keene Stud in New York for Spendthrift Farm. Then in 2019, he was moved to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. Finally, in 2020, he was moved to Pin Oak Lane Farm in Pennsylvania.
Following the 2020 breeding season, he was pensioned, gelded, and began a second career as a sports horse. He was then retired and sent to Old Friends in 2024. The 14-year-old gelding arrived at the farm on Aug. 9.
Rainbow Heir
Bred and owned by New Farm, Rainbow Warrior, who is by Wildcat Heir--Rainbow Pride, by Prospectors Gamble, was foaled on Feb. 8, 2010 in New Jersey.
He began his career in 2013 as a 3-year old under the care of trainer Benjamin Perkins, Jr. for owner New Farm, and promptly won his first four starts. The first two came at Laurel Park in a maiden special weight race and in an allowance optional claiming race. The second two came at Monmouth Park in an allowance race, and in the Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) on July 4 for his first graded-stakes victory. Two other big career wins came in the Teddy Drone Stakes (Listed), and the New Jersey Breeders Handicap (Black Type) in 2014 as a 4-year old.
He then came under the care of trainer Jason Servis and had some more big wins. They were the Wolf Hill Stakes (Black Type), and the Gin Rummy Champ Stakes (Black Type) in 2016 as a 6-year old; and then his second consecutive Wolf Hill Stakes (Black Type), the New Jersey Breeders Handicap (Black Type), and the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship Stakes (Black Type) as a 7-year old in 2017.
In 2018 as an 8-year old, he won his first start of the year in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (Listed). He was then retired to Ocala Stud, but returned to racing later that year.
Two starts after returning he finished ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) on Nov. 18, and was permanently retired.
He re-entered stud in 2019 at New Farm in New Jersey. In 2021, he stood at Shamrock Farm in Maryland, and then returned to New Farm in 2024. The 14-year old chestnut stallion was then pensioned, gelded, and retired to Old Friends. The 14-year-old chestnut stallion arrived at the farm on Nov. 20.
Warrior's Reward
Bred by Jayeff "B" Stables, Warrior's Reward, who is by Medaglia d'Oro--For All You Do, by Seeking the Gold, was foaled in Kentucky On April 3, 2006.
Warrior's Reward had a two-year racing career for trainer Ian Wilkes, and owner A. Stevens Miles, Jr. He began racing in 2009 as a 3-year old and won his first start, a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31, 2009.
His biggest win came in 2010 as a 4-year old when he won the Carter Handicap (G1). He also finished fifth in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Churchill Downs that year. Following that race, he was retired. He finished with four wins, five seconds, two thirds, and $565,716 in earnings in 17 starts.
He entered stud at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky in 2011, and also shuttled to Spendthrift in Australia. Then in 2019 he stood at Wyn Oaks Farm in Delta, Pa. until he was pensioned in 2024 and sent to Old Friends. The 18-year-old bay stallion arrived at the farm on July 5.
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