GEORGETOWN, KY. – Jan. 9, 2024 – Old Friends, the Thoroughbred retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky., is pleased to announce the mid-December 2024 arrival of two new horses: 2003 Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, and 2009 Kentucky Oaks runner-up Stone Legacy.
Bird Town is the first Kentucky Oaks winner retired to Old Friends.
Both horses were donated to Old Friends thanks to the generosity of Marylou Whitney Stables.
“Under any circumstances, Old Friends would be honored to welcome these two accomplished mares,” said John Nicholson, Old Friends’ President and CEO. “The fact that they come to us from the Marylou Whitney Stables means that their arrival carries an even deeper meaning for us. We were so saddened by the recent unexpected passing of John Hendrickson. He and his wife Marylou Whitney were not only towering figures in Thoroughbred Racing, they were stalwart supporters of Thoroughbred aftercare in general and Old Friends in particular. The presence of Bird Town and Stone Legacy, along with Birdstone will always serve as a reminder of John Hendrickson and Marylou Whitney’s prescient leadership of our industry, their dedication to their horses and their commitment to Thoroughbred aftercare.”
Bird Town
Bred and owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, Bird Town, who is by Cape Town–Dear Birdie, by Storm Bird, was foaled on April 11, 2000 in Kentucky.
Trained her entire career by Nick Zito, the now 24-year old mare was a multiple grade winner, with her biggest win coming in the 2003 Kentucky Oaks. In the race, remarkably, she stumbled coming out of the gate, and then rallied from next-to-last to finish a 3-1/4-length victor. The win also gave Hall of Fame trainer, Zito, his first Oaks victory.
Bird Town’s other top wins included the Charon Stakes (Black Type), and the Acorn Stakes (G1), both in 2003. Also, that year she was second in the Stonerside Beaumont Stakes (G2), second in the Text Stakes (G1), and second in the Beldame Stakes (G1). For her efforts in 2003, she won the Eclipse Award as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
Following the Beldame Stakes on Oct. 4, 2003, she was retired with three wins, four seconds, and $815,976 in earnings in eight starts.
Bird Town then went on to a broodmare career at Marylou Whitney Stables from 2006-2019.
Her top progeny are: Bird Song: foaled 2013; sire: Unbridleds Song; record: five wins, two seconds, one third, and $512,707 in earnings in 14 starts; and Tiz Town: foaled 2021; sire: Tiznow; record: six wins, four seconds, five thirds, and $157,474 in earnings in 30 starts.
Stone Legacy
Bred and owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, the now 18-year old mare, who is by Birdstone–Gulch Legacy, by Gulch, was foaled in Kentucky on May 5, 2006.
Trained her entire career by D. Wayne Lukas, the biggest moment of her career occurred when she finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks (G1) to future Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra, who won the race by an Oaks record 20-1/4 lengths.
Later that year, she won an allowance race at Fair Grounds on Dec. 11 and was retired. She finished her career with two wins, four seconds, three thirds, and $202,319 in earnings in 11 starts.
Stone Legacy then went on to a broodmare career at Mary Lou Whitney Stables from 2009-2020.
Her top progeny are: Hard Legacy: foaled 2016; sire: Hard Spun; record: three wins, one third, and $192,284 in earnings in nine starts; she won the 2019 Regret Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs; Stone: foaled 2013; sire: Quality Road; record: eight wins, five seconds, four thirds, and $135,599 in 35 starts.
