GEORGETOWN, KY. – May 23, 2023 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement facility in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce that Be Better, who is owned by Mike Repole, earned retirement for life at Old Friends with his win in the Old Friends Purse Presented by Josephine Abercrombie on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Pimlico Race Course.

The 4-year old son of Uncle Mo-Social Call, by Smart Strike (Can), Be Better, who was ridden by Jevian Toledo, defeated seven other horses to score a 3-3/4-length win in the race that benefited Old Friends and its “Old Friends for Life” retirement program.

“Mike Repole put us on the map when he retired Cool N Collective to Old Friends at Cabin Creek: The Bobby Frankel Division,” said Michael Blowen president and founder of Old Friends. “It’s only fitting that he should win the initial Old Friends Purse presented by Josephine Abercrombie on Preakness day at Pimlico.”

Should he be retired to Old Friends someday, Be Better will join three other “Old Friends For Life” retirees – Next Shares, Kalamos and Get Western – who used their automatic entry for lifetime retirement at Old Friends by winning the Old Friends Stakes (Black Type) at Kentucky Downs.

Repole has been a long-time supporter of Old Friends. Previous Thoroughbreds he’s retired to Old Friends include Be Bullish and Roaring Lion, who are currently at Old Friends at Cabin Creek in New York, along with Cool N Collective and Driven by Success who passed away there.

Plans are underway to make the Old Friends Purse an annual tradition at the Preakness Stakes.