Colic Claims Life of Top Emerald Downs Horse
Image:
Description:
Photo: Reed & Erin Palmer/Emerald Downs
O B Harbor wins this year's Mt. Rainier Stakes.
O B Harbor, the 2016 Emerald Downs Horse of the Meeting, died suddenly Oct. 25 from a twisted intestine.
Owner Jody Peetz said the grade III-placed, multiple stakes winner was resting at his off-season home near Yakima, Wash., when stricken by colic. Peetz said a necropsy revealed a twisted intestine.
Trained by Chris Stenslie, O B Harbor enjoyed a remarkable 2016 season at Emerald Downs, reeling off four spectacular victories including triumphs in the Governor's Stakes, Budweiser Stakes, and Mt. Rainier Stakes. Bred in Oregon by Bred Christopherson, O B Harbor was a 4-year-old gelded son of Harbor the Gold.
A powerful front-runner for regular rider Jose Zunino, O B Harbor ran meet-fastest times at 5 1/2 furlongs, six 1/2 furlongs, and 1 1/16 miles.
"He had all the talent in the world and tons of heart," Peetz said. "He was the complete package and we loved him. It's a terrible loss."
The 6-to-5 betting favorite in the Aug. 14 Longacres Mile (gr. III), O B Harbor suffered his only loss of the season while finishing third to Point Piper and Cyrus Alexander, but not before rocketing through some of the fastest fractions in race history of :22.66, :44.70, 1:08.76, and helping set the stage for Point Piper's track record 1:32.90 clocking.
O B Harbor compiled a lifetime record of six wins from 12 starts with earnings of $163,191.