Mad Flatter Euthanized After Accident
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Photo: Jim Lisa Photos
Mad Flatter winning the 2011 Spend a Buck Handicap
The promising career of young Pennsylvania stallion Mad Flatter ended abruptly April 25 when the multiple grade III winner had to be euthanized following a stall accident, announced Diamond B Farm and Bonnie Heath Farm April 26.
The 11-year-old son of Flatter stood at Diamond B near Mohrsville, Pa., where he's attracted solid books of mares since entering stud in 2013. A freshman sire of 2016, Mad Flatter's first 2-year-olds were showing early potential. A son named Sunday Soldier worked three furlongs in :33 2/5 during an under tack show for the recent Ocala Breeders' Sales April 2-year-olds in training sale, the co-fastest time at the distance. The colt, bred on a $2,500 stud fee, went on to sell for $75,000 to agent Toby Sheets.
Bred in Florida by Bonnie Heath Farm, from the mare Miss Pangea, by Honor Grades, Mad Flatter was raced initially by Kim and Bonnie Heath, then in partnership with John Sullivan of Bright Brook Farm, John Milward of Holiday Stable, and Henry and Thomas Hinkle of Hinkle Farms.
Mad Flatter won back-to-back editions of the Spend A Buck Handicap (gr. III) in 2010 and 2011 at Calder Casino & Race Course. He won the 2010 Spend a Buck by 6 1/4 lengths and earned a 111 Equibase Speed Figure. This victory earned him a starting spot in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) where he got impeded at the break and lost all chance. He also placed in the Lecomte Stakes and Washington Park Handicap (both gr. III) and retired with $354,843 in earnings.
"It is with great sorrow that we share the loss of our stallion Mad Flatter," said Diamond B owner Glenn Brok. "It is tragic, to lose a graded front-end running miler with his pedigree, by Flatter and the strong influence of the prolific family of Weekend Surprise. To come this far and for him to go too soon, is a terrible loss; a loss for our family, the Heaths, and all his breeders, supporters, and fans."
Bonnie Heath recognized what he called the valiant team effort by the Broks, farm workers, and veterinarians to save the stallion.
"Words cannot express how sad we all are," he said. "He sure brought a lot of very good people together."
"He was just feeling good, that is what is so hard," said Kim Heath. "It is the unexplainable things that get to you. Everything was being done right and yet it still happens. It is a terrible loss."