Page 12 - NM Spring 2019

THE NEWS
Morning Line Dies Due to Complications from Pneumonia
Morning Line, a Grade 1-winning son of Tiznow, died due to a rapidly advancing bout of pleuropneumonia on Jan. 28.
Morning Line had been purchased by A & A Ranch, and the 12-year-old stallion was seen as a substantial boost to New Mexico’s breeding program.
“For a market like ours, to get a Grade 1 winner is pretty special,” Fred Alexander of A & A Ranch told Blood-Horse. “We were excited, and the breeders were excited about the new guy.
“He would’ve gotten the biggest book in the state. It was a shocker,” Alexander added. “It happened so fast.”
Pepper’s Pride had a California Chrome filly on Feb. 10 – a sire and dam with 35 combined victories. Congratulations to breeders Michael Stinson and Joe Allen.
Racing from 2009-13, Morning Line earned $1,251,300 from 15 starts, and
he won the 2011 Carter Handicap (G1)
at Aqueduct and 2012 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (G2) at Hollywood Park. The stallion also was the runner-up in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and 2011 Donn Handicap (G2).
According to Blood-Horse, Lane’s End launched Morning Line’s stud career in
2014 and stood him until he was sold to Alexander. At the time of his death, Morning Line had sired 38 winners, including black- type stakes winners Surrender Now and
Empire Lane, and Grade 1-placed winner Seven Trumpets.
Pleuropneumonia, known more commonly as “shipping fever,” is a lower respiratory tract infection frequently caused by a mix of bacteria that overwhelms the pulmonary defense mecha- nisms, according to a presentation by Dr. Steve Giguère for an American Association of Equine Practitioners Focus Meeting.
Morning Line’s case appeared to have been particularly difficult to treat because the strains of bacterium causing his infection did not seem particularly affected by the antibiotics, Alexander was told by his vet.
Justin Evans scores his 2,000th Thoroughbred victory at Sunland Park on Feb. 17
Trainer Justin Evans, 37, scored his 2,000th Thoroughbred victory at Sunland Park on Feb. 17 when A&A Equine and Paul Miller’s 6-year- old California bred mare Curlin Curlina (Curlin- Helen’s Echo, Swiss Yodeler) won a maiden claiming race by 4 1/2-lengths under rider Luis Contreras. Evans now has 2,000 wins, 1,520 seconds and 1,190 thirds from 8,450 starts with $24,384,250 in total earnings.
10 New Mexico Horse Breeder
Coady Photography
Coady Photography