Pleasantly Perfect (April 2, 1998 – June 3, 2020) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2003 Breeder's Cup Classic, and 2004 Dubai World Cup. At the time of his retirement, he was the fourth-richest American horse in career earnings.
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Background
Pleasantly Perfect was sired by Pleasant Colony, winner of the 1981 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. His dam Regal State, who was sired by the 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, won the 1985 Group One Prix Morny in France.
In September 1999, Pleasantly Perfect was purchased by Diamond A Racing at the Keeneland Yearling Sale for $725,000 from Clovelly Farms.
Racing career
2001
Pleasantly Perfect made his debut on May 31, at Hollywood Park, but he would not finish the race. It would be his only start as a 3 year old.
2002
Pleasantly Perfect returned to make a few starts. On August 25, he made his stakes debut with a fourth-place finish in the Pacific Classic Stakes. On October 6, he won the Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita.
2003
Pleasantly Perfect started the year by coming third in the San Antonio Stakes on February 2 and fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 1.
At the end of the year, Pleasantly Perfect won the 6 million dollar Breeders' Cup Classic on October 25.
2004
Pleasantly Perfect then won another big race, the $12,000,000 Dubai World Cup on March 27. He became the second horse to win both the Breeder's Cup Classic and Dubai World Cup, behind Cigar.
He then came second in the San Diego Handicap on August 1, before winning the Pacific Classic Stakes on August 22.
In his last race he finished third behind Ghostzapper and Roses in May in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic on October 30.
Stud record
Pleasantly Perfect entered stud in 2005 at Lane's End Farm in Versailles, Kentucky with a stud fee of $70,000. His first offspring to race was Rapid Redux, who won a record 22 straight races and was the winner of the Eclipse Special Award for 2011.
By 2011, his stud fee dropped down to $7,500. That year he was sold to Fleetwood Bloodstock at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale for $32,000. In 2014, Pleasantly Perfect was exported to Turkey.
On June 3, 2020, Pleasantly Perfect died at the age of 22 from a brief illness. His most successful son, Whitmore, won the Breeders' Cup Sprint, later that November.
Pedigree
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