Eclipse Award-winner and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint champion Amazombie (Northern Afleet) was euthanized on Monday, Sept. 18, at Old Friends in Georgetown, KY, due to a fractured ankle. The 16-year old gelding had lived at the retirement facility since 2014 thanks to his owners, trainer Bill Spawr and Thomas Sanford.
“Amazombie was a lot of fun,” Spawr said. “He was so much fun, you just can't imagine. And, you know, he died doing what he loved to do–run! You guys [at Old Friends] did a great job. We appreciated that.”
Racing over four seasons, Amazombie amassed a career line of 29-12-5-6, $1,920,378. In addition to annexing the 2011 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint, the California-bred bay won the 2011 G1 Ancient Title S., 2012 GI Bing Crosby S. and the GII Potrero Grande S. twice. He also and won or placed in eight other stakes and was honored as champion sprinter in 2011.
“Amazombie died doing what he did best–running like the wind,” Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends said. “I like all of our retirees, I love just a handful, and we lost one of those when Amazombie outran his limitations, and I'm certain that I'm not the only one who is heartbroken.”
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