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Former Champion Genuine Risk Dead

POSTED: 3:27 pm EDT August 18, 2008

(Sports Network) - Former Kentucky Derby winning filly Genuine Risk passed away at Newstead Farm in Virginia on Monday. The mare was 31 years old.

"Genuine Risk was an amazing horse with tremendous heart that lived a life befitting a champion." said Bert and Diana Firestone in a release. "We are truly blessed that she was a part of our life and we are deeply saddened by her passing."

Owned by Diana Firestone, Genuine Risk became only the second filly to win the Kentucky Derby when she made history in 1980. Sent off at odds of 13-1 she defeated Rumbo by one length in the 1 1/4 mile race.

She was the first female to capture the Run for the Roses since Regret in 1915. Eight years later, Winning Colors joined the two as the third filly to claim the Kentucky Derby.

Two weeks after her historic win, Genuine Risk was second in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico to Codex. Her jockey, Jacinto Vasquez, claimed foul against Codex and jockey Angel Cordero Jr. for drifting out and interfering with the filly. The stewards disallowed the objection.

Genuine Risk came back in the Belmont Stakes to finish second to Temperence Hill. Trained by Leroy Jolley, she was voted 1980 champion three-year-old filly.

In a 15-race career, Genuine Risk found the winner's circle 10 times and earned $646,587. She entered the Racing Hall of Fame in 1986.


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