Bonapaw (Sabona - Pawlova, Nijinsky II) was nothing short of a Cinderella horse for his owners, Louisiana-based twin brothers James and Dennis Richard, who purchased the bay gelding as a yearling for $6.500. Bonapaw went on to take his owners far and wide, capturing 18 of 49 starts and earning over $1.1 million.
The horse broke his maiden as a two-year old at Fair Grounds, and over the years, became the pride of the track winning five stakes over the oval.
Bonapaw got stronger with age. His first graded stakes came in 2001 at Oaklawn Park when he won the Grade 3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. In 2002, at the age of six, he journeyed to the United Arab Emirates for a chance at the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (he placed 6
th) then captured the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup Handicap at Arlington, and his first Grade 1 victory, the Vosburgh Stakes, at Belmont Park.
His Vosburg win encouraged the Richard brothers to invest $90,000 supplemental fee to enter Bonapaw in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Arlington, but he finished 10
th in a field that included Kona Gold, Xtra Heat, and winner Orientate.
Retired from racing in 2005, he was donated to Old Friends in 2009 by James Richard, Jr.
"We are so grateful to have had these years with Bonapaw," said Old Friends president Michael Blowen. "He was a great race horse, and he meant so much to his owners as well as all of his many fans. Jamie even donated Bonapaw's Vosburgh Trophy to us, and we will cherish it always."
For additional information contact Old Friends at (502) 863-1775.
