Claiborne cornerstone stallion Flatter dies at age 23

Flatter, a cornerstone of the Claiborne Farm stallion roster for nearly two decades, was euthanized Monday because of the infirmities of old age. He was 23.

The son of A.P. Indy was a second-generation homebred for Claiborne and Adele Dilschneider, out of the successful Mr. Prospector mare Praise, making him a full brother to Grade 2 winner and notable sire Congrats.

"Flatter was the kind of sire you'd like to have 10 of," said Claiborne Farm's Bernie Sams. "He was solid and consistent year in and year out. He started at the bottom and worked his way up to being a successful and respected stallion. He was popular among people who bred to race and was a successful commercial sire as well. He will be greatly missed."

After finishing fourth on debut, Flatter rolled off a four-race winning streak at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park and Turfway Park before finishing third in the Washington Park Handicap (G2). He was retired after that effort with four wins in six starts for earnings of $148,815.

Flatter retired to Claiborne Farm for the 2004 breeding season.

From 16 crops of racing age, Flatter has sired 602 winners with combined progeny earnings of more than $84.1 million. He has sired 67 stakes winners, including 21 in graded or group stakes company.

Flatter's high-level runners are led by West Coast, who earned the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male in 2017 with victories in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes and Pennsylvania Derby and a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. West Coast retired with earnings of more than $5.8 million, with additional runner-up efforts in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Dubai World Cup.

Flat Out earned over $3.6 million on the racetrack, with wins in multiple editions of both the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and Suburban Handicap (G2), as well as a victory in the Cigar Mile (G1).

Other Grade 1 winners by Flatter include Taris, Paola Queen and Search Results. The latter finished a second in last year's Kentucky Oaks, and she most recently won the Ruffian (G2) at Belmont Park during Kentucky Derby weekend.

In addition to West Coast, Flat Out and Taris, Flatter's seven runners to earn $1 million or more include Grade 2 winners Upstart and Kobe's Back, Grade 4 winner Plainsman and 11-time stakes winner Lucy's Bob Boy.

Flatter is also the sire of Avie's Flatter, who was Canada's champion 2-year-old colt of 2018 then finished in the money in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown the following season.

As a broodmare sire, Flatter's daughters have produced Grade 1 winner Juju's Map and Taiba, Grade 2 winner Merneith and multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Fast Jet Court.

"Flatter's passing leaves a huge hole in all of our hearts," said Claiborne Farm president Walker Hancock. "He was a homebred of ours that was tough as nails until the day he passed. He was a farm favorite and will be sorely missed. We will look for his legacy to continue through his sons at stud."

Flatter will be buried at Clairborne Farm.