Bourbon Belle, Dam of Champion Not Bourbon, Dies

Bourbon Belle, the dam of Canadian classic winner and champion Not Bourbon , died June 22 due to the infirmities of old age at owner/breeder Charles Fipke's farm in Kentucky, confirmed Sid Fernando, Fipke's bloodstock adviser.

The 25-year-old daughter of Storm Boot was a multiple graded stakes winner bred in Kentucky by Peter Salmen and raced by Donna Salmen, Susan Bunning, and Highland Farm. She won the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G3) and two editions of the Honorable Miss Handicap (G3) among her 16 wins out of 40 starts. She was also placed twice in the Ballerina Handicap (G1)—second in 1999 and third in 2000—on her way to earning $1,152,223.

Bourbon Belle was sold to agent R.J. Bennett for $600,000 at the 2003 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale out of Fred Seitz's consignment and became part of Fipke's broodmare band. Her second foal was a Not Impossible colt named Not Bourbon, who Fipke raced and captured his first and only victory to date in Canada's prestigious classic the Queen's Plate. The Queen's Plate win also gave trainer Roger Attfield a record-tying eighth victory in the classic. The colt won four of six starts at 3 and earned Sovereign Award honors as 2008 champion 3-year-old colt.

Out of 11 foals, Bourbon Belle produced six winners from nine starters that have collectively earned $1,455,663 so far. Her last foal is a 2-year-old Tiznow  filly named Pappy's Belle. The mare was retired from breeding last year. Among her other successful progeny is Timeless Silver, a filly by Silver Deputy, who didn't win on the track but went on to produce black-type winners Eighty Nine Red (Bold Executive) and Silver Princess (Old Forester).