Pollard's Vision Retired to Old Friends

Pollard's Vision, a grade 1-placed, multiple graded stakes winner, is the newest addition to the roster at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm near Georgetown, Ky.

The one-time Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful that won the 2004 Illinois Derby (G2) arrived from Mighty Acres near Pryor, Okla., where he has stood since 2015. The son of Carson City is now 19.

Blind in his right eye since birth, Pollard's Vision was named after Seabiscuit's jockey Red Pollard, who lost the vision in his right eye due to a brain injury caused by a rock thrown up by another horse during training.

Pollard's Vision was bred in Kentucky by Charles A. Smith out of the Dixieland Band mare Etats Unis. He became a consistent performer for owner Edgewood Farm and trainer Todd Pletcher, winning or placing 17 times out of 23 lifetime starts. The dark bay colt broke his maiden at 2 at Saratoga Race Course in his second start. At 3, he won the Illinois Derby after finishing third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and earned a place in the Kentucky Derby but finished in 17th place.

He went on to win that year's Walmac Lone Star (G3) and Leonard Richards Stakes (G3) and was runner-up in the West Virginia Derby (G3). At 4, he won National Jockey Club Handicap (G3) and was second in the Pimlico Special Handicap (G1).

He suffered a career-ending injury in 2005 in the Whitney Handicap (G1) at Saratoga and was retired with $1,430,311 in earnings.

Pollard's Vision began his stud career at Wintergreen Stallion Station in Central Kentucky. He relocated to Waldorf Farm in New York in 2013 and stood two seasons at Pleasant Acres Stallions near Ocala, Fla., in 2014-15, before being relocated to Mighty Acres in 2015.

He is the sire of six-time grade 1 winner Blind Luck, who was named the 2003 Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly and is a 2020 Hall of Fame finalist. Pollard's Vision also sired grade 1-placed stakes winner Twentytwentyvision, among his 24 total black-type winners.

"We're very grateful to everyone at Mighty Acres, especially Randy Blair, for allowing Old Friends to care for Pollard's Vision in his golden years," said Old Friends founder and president Michael Blowen. "I remember him so well when he was racing and I'm thrilled that, now, I'll be able to see him every day."

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, Old Friends remains closed to public tours until further notice.