There will be a heavy dose of sadness attached to the Aug. 2 Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course for JoAnn Pepper and her staff at Old Friends at Cabin Creek.
Their hearts are still heavy a little more than a month after the equine retirement farm in upstate New York lost its biggest star when two-time Whitney winner Commentator was humanely euthanized on June 27.
"It's been hard. But it was wonderful getting all those calls and messages and pictures of him. He was loved nationwide, for sure," Pepper said. "We had a wonderful memorial service at the farm and there 80 people who were sharing great stories and fond memories of him."
While replacing a horse as popular and beloved as Commentator is easier said than done, Pepper took heart when she learned that 2018 Whitney winner Diversify will be moving from Old Frends' Kentucky farm to Cabin Creek.
The multiple grade 1 winner arrived at Cabin Creek July 27 and Pepper said he settled in nicely in his home not far from the Spa and the scene of one of his greatest victories.
"Nothing can replace Commentator but it's nice to have another Whitney winner who can become a star," Pepper said.
Owned by Lauren and Ralph Evans, Diversify raced 16 times and won 10 times for trainer Rick Violette while earning $1.98 million. Besides the Whitney, the New York-bred son of Bellamy Road also won the 2017 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the 2018 Suburban Stakes (G2).
