Timber Country (Woodman–Fall Aspen, by Pretense), the 1994 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile who defeated his two-time Classic-winning stablemate Thunder Gulch (Gulch) in the GI Preakness S. the following spring, passed away earlier this week at Lex Stud in Japan at the age of 24.
Bred in Kentucky by Lowquest Ltd., Timber Country was purchased for $500,000 at the Keeneland July Sale in 1993 and raced for a partnership consisting of W.T. Young's Overbrook Farm, Gainesway Farm and Bob and Beverly Lewis. The well-related colt was trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who had signed the winning ticket. Winner of the GI Moet Champagne S. ahead of his two-length defeat of Eltish (Cox's Ridge) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs, Timber Country failed to reach the winner's circle in his first three starts at three, but was nevertheless sent out the 34-10 favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Pat Day from well back in the field, the chestnut saved ground and rallied nicely but fell 2 1/4 lengths short of Thunder Gulch. Despite the loss, he was favored yet again in the Preakness and circled horses en route to a 1/2-length victory, with Thunder Gulch third. Timber Country missed the final leg of the Triple Crown, ultimately won by his stable companion, due to an illness and was retired with five wins from 12 starts and earnings of $1,560,400.
Sold to the Yoshida Brothers, Timber Country entered stud at Shadai Farm and stood for one season in Dubai on a lease agreement with Sheikh Mohammed. That crop yielded 2004 GI Beldame S. winner Balletto (UAE), who was also runner-up in the previous year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Timber Country also shuttled to Australia.
Hailing from one of the most influential female families in the stud book, Timber Country was a son of the 1978 GI Matron S. winner and was a half-brother to champion Bianconi and to Group 1 winners Fort Wood and Hamas (Ire). Another half-sibling, Colorado Dancer (Ire) created her own legacy as the dam of future MG1SW and Dubai World Cup winner Dubai Millennium (GB).
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