Fly So Free (USA)
March 3, 1988 – October 21, 2003
Time for a Change (USA) x Free to Fly (USA), by Stevward (USA)
Family 27-a
March 3, 1988 – October 21, 2003
Time for a Change (USA) x Free to Fly (USA), by Stevward (USA)
Family 27-a
A victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) sealed a championship for Champagne Stakes (USA-G1) winner Fly So Free, who got the Eclipse Award vote over Norfolk Stakes (USA-G1) and Hollywood Futurity (USA-G1) winner Best Pal (sixth in the Juvenile). He continued to race well at 3 but not with the success hoped for at the beginning of the year and was hampered by physical issues as an older horse. He was a disappointing sire in a relatively short breeding career, and his best son, multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Captain Steve, failed to carry the line forward.
Race record
33 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,330,954
1990:
1991:
1992:
1993:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male.
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1990, 1 pound above second-rated Best Pal.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 4 pounds below champion Hansel.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1992, 11 pounds below highweighted Best Pal and 9 pounds below the official champion, Pleasant Tap.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1993, 7 pounds below champion Cardmania.
As an individual
A lengthy chestnut horse with a good shoulder and hip and a strong, straight hind leg, Fly So Free had a long, smooth stride.
As a stallion
Fly So Free sired 214 winners (56.5%) and nine stakes winners (2.4%) from 379 named foals per records maintained by The Jockey Club.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Captain Steve (USA), Free Vacation (CAN), Kossonova (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Kossimo (CHI), Kitcat (CHI), Knockout (CHI), Kurilov (CHI)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fly So Free was bred by Bruce Hundley and Wayne Garrison. A US$80,000 purchase from the 1989 Keeneland July yearling sale, he was owned by Thomas and Elizabeth Valando during his racing career; Elizabeth Vallando, by then widowed, owned him throughout his stud career. He was trained by Scotty Schulhofer and was ridden to his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by José Santos. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1994 at Three Chimneys Farm, where he stood throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in 2002 due to heart problems. He was euthanized October 23, 2003, due to congestive heart failure. He was buried at Three Chimneys alongside his sire, Time for a Change, and fellow champion juvenile Chief's Crown.
Pedigree notes
Fly So Free is inbred 5x4 to the good stakes horse and sire Sun Again and to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the leading Engish/Irish sire of 1951. He is a half brother to 1985 Jamaica Handicap (USA-G3) winner Don’s Choice (by Private Account).
Free to Fly, the dam of Fly So Free, is by the stakes-winning Nashua horse Stevward and is a stakes-placed full sister to Sonny Says Quick, a winner of 14 stakes races and the third dam of two-time Saudi Arabian champion older female Potra Dancer (who raced as “Jawharat Alaziriya” in Saudi Arabia). Free to Fly is also a half sister to stakes winners Creeque Alley (by Alcibiades II) and Gustoso (by What a Pleasure) and to Sunshine Girl (by Groton), dam of 1982 Clásico de la República (VEN-G2) winner Dancing Girl (by Dashing Pleasure). In addition, Free to Fly is a half sister to Delightful Spring (by Francis S.), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Looking for a Win (by Crafty Prospector), and to Roundabend (by Never Bend), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Hedgeabout (by Riva Ridge) and third dam of 2006 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Boboman. Finally, Free to Fly is a half sister to Breeze Me (by Best Turn), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Foot Band.
Free to Fly and her siblings were produced from the stakes-placed Native Dancer mare Dancing Lark, whose full sister Faraway Blues is the dam of 1977 Mexican champion 2-year-old filly La Rosada (by Prince O’Morn). Produced from 1946 Princess Pat Stakes winner Say Blue (Blue Larkspur x I Say, by Dis Donc), Dancing Lark is also a half sister Dear Diane (by Alsab), dam of 1970 Lamplighter Handicap winner Jaradara (by First Landing).
Books and media
Footage of Fly So Free’s win in the 1991 Florida Derby can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yBuS8RlKik.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 30, 2025
Race record
33 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$2,330,954
1990:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1991:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1. 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Jim Dandy Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Riva Ridge Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Blue Grass Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
1992:
- 2nd Pimlico Special Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
1993:
- Won Fall Highweight Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Westchester Handicap (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Tom Fool Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old male.
Assessments
Rated at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1990, 1 pound above second-rated Best Pal.
Rated at 122 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1991, 4 pounds below champion Hansel.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1992, 11 pounds below highweighted Best Pal and 9 pounds below the official champion, Pleasant Tap.
Rated at 115 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American sprinters of 1993, 7 pounds below champion Cardmania.
As an individual
A lengthy chestnut horse with a good shoulder and hip and a strong, straight hind leg, Fly So Free had a long, smooth stride.
As a stallion
Fly So Free sired 214 winners (56.5%) and nine stakes winners (2.4%) from 379 named foals per records maintained by The Jockey Club.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 5th on the American general sire list in 2001.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 5th on the American general sire list in 2001
Notable progeny
Captain Steve (USA), Free Vacation (CAN), Kossonova (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Kossimo (CHI), Kitcat (CHI), Knockout (CHI), Kurilov (CHI)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fly So Free was bred by Bruce Hundley and Wayne Garrison. A US$80,000 purchase from the 1989 Keeneland July yearling sale, he was owned by Thomas and Elizabeth Valando during his racing career; Elizabeth Vallando, by then widowed, owned him throughout his stud career. He was trained by Scotty Schulhofer and was ridden to his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by José Santos. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1994 at Three Chimneys Farm, where he stood throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in 2002 due to heart problems. He was euthanized October 23, 2003, due to congestive heart failure. He was buried at Three Chimneys alongside his sire, Time for a Change, and fellow champion juvenile Chief's Crown.
Pedigree notes
Fly So Free is inbred 5x4 to the good stakes horse and sire Sun Again and to five-time American champion sire Nasrullah, also the leading Engish/Irish sire of 1951. He is a half brother to 1985 Jamaica Handicap (USA-G3) winner Don’s Choice (by Private Account).
Free to Fly, the dam of Fly So Free, is by the stakes-winning Nashua horse Stevward and is a stakes-placed full sister to Sonny Says Quick, a winner of 14 stakes races and the third dam of two-time Saudi Arabian champion older female Potra Dancer (who raced as “Jawharat Alaziriya” in Saudi Arabia). Free to Fly is also a half sister to stakes winners Creeque Alley (by Alcibiades II) and Gustoso (by What a Pleasure) and to Sunshine Girl (by Groton), dam of 1982 Clásico de la República (VEN-G2) winner Dancing Girl (by Dashing Pleasure). In addition, Free to Fly is a half sister to Delightful Spring (by Francis S.), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Looking for a Win (by Crafty Prospector), and to Roundabend (by Never Bend), dam of Grade 2-placed listed stakes winner Hedgeabout (by Riva Ridge) and third dam of 2006 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Boboman. Finally, Free to Fly is a half sister to Breeze Me (by Best Turn), third dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Foot Band.
Free to Fly and her siblings were produced from the stakes-placed Native Dancer mare Dancing Lark, whose full sister Faraway Blues is the dam of 1977 Mexican champion 2-year-old filly La Rosada (by Prince O’Morn). Produced from 1946 Princess Pat Stakes winner Say Blue (Blue Larkspur x I Say, by Dis Donc), Dancing Lark is also a half sister Dear Diane (by Alsab), dam of 1970 Lamplighter Handicap winner Jaradara (by First Landing).
Books and media
Footage of Fly So Free’s win in the 1991 Florida Derby can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yBuS8RlKik.
Fun facts
- Fly So Free was the second racehorse ever purchased outright by Thomas Valando, a Broadway musical producer, and was an accidental acquisition at the Keeneland sales. Valando’s agent, Mike Ryan, had originally targeted a Well Decorated colt who ended up going for US$35,000. Valando, who had gone into the sale expecting to spend $100,000 or so, authorized Ryan to buy him a second horse, and that was Fly So Free, who cost US$80,000.
- Fly So Free was the first horse to sweep Gulfstream Park’s series of Kentucky Derby preps for 3-year-olds (the Hutcheson Stakes, the Fountain of Youth Stakes, and the Florida Derby) since Spectacular Bid, who won all three races on the way to taking the Kentucky Derby in 1979.
Last updated: August 30, 2025