Derby Winner Genuine Risk Dies, Age 31

Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died the morning of Aug. 18 in her paddock at Bertram and Diana Firestone’s Newstead Farm near Upperville, Va.
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Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died the morning of Aug. 18 in her paddock at Bertram and Diana Firestone’s Newstead Farm near Upperville, Va. The 31-year-old daughter of Exclusive Native was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner.

“Genuine Risk was an amazing horse with tremendous heart that lived a life befitting a champion,” the Firestones said in a prepared statement. “We are truly blessed that she was a part of our life, and we are deeply saddened by her passing.”

Campaigned by Diana Firestone and trained by LeRoy Jolley, Genuine Risk became the first filly winner of the Kentucky Derby since Regret in 1915 when she trounced males at 13-1 in the 1980 running. Back two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes, Genuine Risk finished second as the 2-1 favorite to Codex in a roughly run race. Her rider, Jacinto Vasquez, claimed foul, but the stewards allowed the finish to stand.

Those two were back for Belmont Stakes, but it was longshot Temperence Hill who found the muddy track to his liking. Genuine Risk finished a solid second while Codex ran a disappointing seventh as the favorite

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