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Peaks and Valleys dies at 20
By Brisnet.com: The Handicapper's Edge
Updated: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:28 PM
Posted: Monday, July 23, 2012 5:55 PM



Peaks and Valleys, Canada's Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt of 1995, has died at the age of 20. The Grade 1-winning millionaire and sire, who had been standing at Gardiner Farms in Ontario since 2006, succumbed to the infirmities of his age.

A homebred campaigned by Josephine Abercrombie's Pin Oak Stable, Peaks and Valleys was bred on the potent Blushing Groom/Nijinsky II cross. The son of Mt. Livermore was produced by the winning Green Dancer mare Strike a Balance.

His half-sister, multiple stakes heroine and Grade 2-placed Alternate, has been in the news as the dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Alternation, who has captured this season's Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, Grade 3 Pimlico Special, Grade 3 Razorback Handicap and Essex Handicap.

Peaks and Valleys won his first three starts as a juvenile for trainer Jim Day, including a six-length romp in the Cradle over Tejano Run. He concluded 1994 with a third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

After a sharp second to Mr. Greeley in the Grade 3 Lafayette in his sophomore debut, Peaks and Valleys rallied in time to take the Grade 3 Derby Trial and drove to a two-length decision in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby, defeating Da Hoss. He did not reappear until August, when warming up for bigger engagements with a seven-furlong optional claiming score. He came up a neck shy against lone speed Kiridashi next out in the Col. R.S. McLaughlin, but that effort had him primed for their Grade 1 rematch two weeks later.

Peaks and Valleys was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the Molson Export Million, and duly obliged with a convincing 2 1/2-length victory. Queen's Plate hero Regal Discovery had to settle for second; Mt. Sassafras, a future Canadian Horse of the Year, was third; and Petionville was fourth. Kiridashi tired to fifth after arguing the pace.

Peaks and Valleys further boosted his Sovereign Award credentials in the Grade 1 Meadowlands Cup Handicap, where he drew off to another 2 1/2-length score. His beaten rivals included Concern and L'Carriere. Although Peaks and Valleys ended the year with a sixth behind Hall of Famer Cigar and L'Carriere in the Breeders' Cup Classic, he had done enough to earn the Canadian Horse of the Year and divisional titles.

Transferred to Bill Mott for his 1996 campaign, Peaks and Valleys rolled by four lengths in a Belmont Park allowance in his return to action. Third to Mahogany Hall and Serena's Song in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap, he was runner-up to old foe L'Carriere in the Grade 3 Saratoga Cup Handicap. He failed to fire when sixth in the Grade 3 Sport Page Handicap, and was then retired with a record of 16-9-3-2, $1,589,270.

"The success Mrs. Abercrombie enjoyed with Peaks and Valleys was a turning point for our program," Pin Oak General Manager Clifford Barry said. "He let all of us know what it was like to participate in racing at the very highest level."

Entering stud at Pin Oak near Versailles, Kentucky, Peaks and Valleys sired such major performers as Grade 2-winning millionaire Dollar Bill, whose five Grade 1 placings include the Travers, Blue Grass and Stephen Foster Handicap; Chamrousse, queen of the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan and runner-up in the Grade 1 Mother Goose; Grade 2 Mazarine victress Higher World; multiple Grade 3 scorer Happy Trails; and Grade 3 vixen Meribel.

Daughters of Peaks and Valleys have produced the likes of Rose Catherine, Warren's Jitterbug and Valli with a Vow.

Peaks and Valleys stood the 2012 season for a fee of C$4,000.

"We would like to thank the entire staff at Gardiner Farm, especially the late Dr. Mike Colterjohn and his assistant Sherry McLean, for the tremendous care they gave Peaks and Valleys over the years," Barry said.

Peaks and Valleys will be returned to his birthplace and buried at Pin Oak Stud.



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