Happy Birthday Fortunate Prospect

[OldDog]

30 years old today, Gramps is fortunate to be under the care of Michael Blowen and his wonderful staff at Old Friends.

By Northern Prospect--Fortunate Bid (Lucky Debonair), he made his debut in the Hialeah Sales Stakes in March 1983, galloping to victory by 20 lengths. He won 13 of 39 lifetime starts, including 12 stakes, earning $439,875. A sprinter, in February 1984 he defeated champion sprinter Precisionist in the San Vicente Stakes. 3 of his 13 victories were in his fourth year of racing, in which he finished in the money in 6 of 11 races.

But it's in the Farnsworth Farms breeding shed that Forty really made his mark. One of Florida's all time leading sires, he entered stud as a syndicated stallion, and his first crop of 45 had 42 starters, 38 winners and one stakes winner. He produced close to 40 percent winners from 2YO starters, and was the nation's leader by number of 2YO winners in 1991, 1993 and 1996 with 20 or more each year. Fortunate Prospect was the sire of 17 crops of racing age, 779 foals, 663 starters, and 567 winners (28 stakes victors) earning over $42 million. He has also been recognized over the years as a significant broodmare sire.
Stallion Register page in 2004:
http://www.thefloridahorse.com/stall...20PROSPECT.pdf

He was pensioned in 2005 at age 24, and shortly after that acquired by Old Friends when Farnsworth was liquidated. He's a sweet old gentleman there, and a good ambassador for the farm. He is also my favorite horse at Old Friends - can you tell?

Happy Birthday, Gramps.