Free House

Gone but not forgotten:

Free House, the fiery-eyed roan that won the 1998 Pacific Classic, died July 19, 2004, from a fractured skull in an accident at Vessels Stallion Farm, where he stood at stud. The 10-year-old son of Smokester raced for the partnership of John Toffan and Trudy McCaffery and was trained by Paco Gonzalez. He retired following his 5-year-old season and stood his first year at stud at Vessels farm in Bonsall in 2000.

A champion racer:

Free House won or placed in 17 of 22 career starts and compiled earnings of $3,178,971, which places him fifth on the list of top California-bred purse earners. Among his eight graded stakes career victories besides the Pacific Classic were the 1997 Santa Anita Derby, in which he defeated eventual Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, and the S anta Anita Handicap in 1999. He was twice named California's Horse of the Year.

Rivals at the track:

Free House and Silver Charm were often rivals on the track. On the '97 Triple Crown trail, Free House finished third in the Derby and second in the Preakness to Silver Charm and third to Touch Gold and Silver Charm in the Belmont Stakes. Free House did come out on top in the San Felipe, Santa Anita Derby, and Santa Anita Handicap to help even the score.

At stud:

In his brief career at stud, he has so far sired 34 starters with 11 winners and 1 stakes winner. His best runner so far is House of Fortune, a filly from his first crop in 2001. She was a Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in California and had stakes wins in the Fantasy, Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks, California Oaks, California Cup Juvenile Fillies, and the Cover Gal Stakes.