Praise, Dam of Flatter and Congrats, Dies at 27

Claiborne Farm's star broodmare Praise , the dam of grade 1-producing sires Flatter   and Congrats  , died Aug. 16 due to infirmities of old age, Claiborne president Walker Hancock said Tuesday. She was 27. 

"A 3-year-old could walk her down a lane and she wouldn't turn a hair. Not only at her old age—she would have done that 15 years ago," Hancock said. "She was literally the kindest mare. She had all of our hearts here at Claiborne. Everyone loved to go mess with Praise, so it was definitely a sad day yesterday."

The daughter of Mr. Prospector—Wild Applause, by Northern Dancer, was a homebred for Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider. She won two of seven starts on the track, but shined as a broodmare for the Paris, Ky., farm. The very first foal she produced in 1999 was Flatter (by A.P. Indy). The bay colt won four of six races and was grade 2-placed before going on to write another strong chapter in the history of Claiborne stallions.

Having stood his 18th season at Claiborne this year, Flatter has to date produced 57 black-type winners, 21 at the graded level, and two champions. His grade 1 winners include champion 3-year-old colt and Travers Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) hero West Coast  , two-time Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner Flat Out  , Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) victress Taris , Test Stakes (G1) winner Paola Queen , and this year's Acorn Stakes (G1) heroine Search Results . 

In 2000 Praise produced Congrats, another son of A.P. Indy. Congrats won seven of 26 races and just missed the million-dollar mark in earnings. His finest victory came in the San Pasqual Handicap (G2), and he also placed in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). Congrats began his stud career at Vinery in Florida and shuttled to Australia. He moved to Kentucky with Vinery Stud for the 2011 season, and has stood at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky., since 2013. 

Congrats is the sire of 44 black-type winners, 12 of them graded, to date and he has been represented at the top level by four-time grade 1-winning filly Turbulent Descent , Ballerina Stakes (G1) captress Haveyougoneaway , Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Wickedly Perfect , and Prioress Stakes (G1) winner Emma's Encore . 

Praise has also produced the stallions Commend  (War Front  ), a graded stakes-placed winner that was sold to stand in Saudi Arabia, and Tout  (Medaglia d'Oro  ), who was sold to stand in South Korea. 

Praise's first two daughters have carried on the black-type tradition. Amen Again  is the dam of Sprawl, who won the Aug. 7 West Virginia Governor's Cup (G3) for Claiborne and Dilschneider, and Hip Hip  has produced the stakes-placed Support . Praise's third daughter, and final foal, is the 4-year-old Plea , who was bred to War of Will   for 2022.

"Even her daughters are carrying on her legacy," Hancock said. "Not only her sons, but her daughters are as well."

Overall Praise produced 12 foals, eight of which were winners. 

The family of Praise is replete with black-type success. Her dam Wild Applause was a multiple graded stakes winner and a half sister to Kentucky Derby (G1) victor Sea Hero. Her half sister Yell produced the stakes winner Cheery, who in turn became the dam of multiple grade 1 winner Elate . Yell also produced the grade 1-placed Chide , stakes-placed Shrill , and Toll , the dam of multiple graded stakes winner Tax .

In addition to Yell, Praise also counts the graded stakes winners Roar  (leading sire in Argentina), Blare of Trumpets , and Eastern Echo  as half siblings. This is the same female family that has produced multiple graded stakes winner and current Claiborne sire Ironicus  , and graded stakes winners On Leave , Norumbega , Hunting , and Quiet Harbor .

"She meant so much to the farm and Ms. Dilschneider and she's been great to us all," Hancock said of Praise. "I'm sure she'll continue to be and she won't be forgotten."