ill Ridge Farm has announced that 1998 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Keeper Hill died Nov. 20 at age 20.
Bred in Kentucky by Chadds Ford Stable, Keeper Hill, by Deputy Minister—Fineza, by Lypheor, won three grade I stakes in her four seasons of racing, taking the Kentucky Oaks, 1998 Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I), and 1999 Three Chimneys Spinster Stakes (gr. I). She also placed in 12 other stakes.
Campaigned by Mill Ridge, Dr. John Chandler, Audrey Otto, and trainer Shug McGaughey throughout her career, Keeper Hill registered a 4-7-5 mark and earned $1,661,281. After initially being trained by McGaughey, Keeper Hill was conditioned by Bobby Frankel.
“You can only dream about winning a race like the Kentucky Oaks, and Keeper Hill fulfilled that dream,” said Mill Ridge’s Headley Bell. “For our partners and Mill Ridge family it was an honor to associate with her all these years.”
As a broodmare Keeper Hill produced grade III winner Keep Up, by Unbridled’s Song. Keep Up stands at Mill Ridge. Keeper Hill currently has an unnamed yearling colt by Candy Rid