Graceful Touch, a stakes-winning filly who made a mark in trotting bloodlines, passed away at the age of 24 at Hunterton Farm in Paris, Kentucky.
Graceful Touch was of royal trotting parentage, a daughter of world champion Pine Chip and Act Of Grace, a filly who took on the colts in the Hambletonian for U.S. Hall of Famer Stanley Dancer. The maternal family includes several stakes-winning fillies and Graceful Touch’s third dam, Peridot, produced the great Green Speed, the 1977 U.S. Horse of the Year.
Trained by Chuck Sylvester and frequently driven by John Campbell, Graceful Touch took a record of 1:56.1 at age two and earned $161,127. Her two-year-old season was her best as she won four of eight starts and won an elimination for the Breeders Crown. She earned $192,002 from 11 starts lifetime.
During her racing career, Graceful Touch was owned by Perretti Farms, which naturally added her to its broodmare band when she was retired from the track. She produced 13 foals, among them her first-born, Muscle Mass 2,1:53.4 ($229,000), and her third, Hambletonian champion Muscle Massive 3,1:51 ($1,245,297). In addition to their racing accomplishments, both also became successful sires. She also produced six daughters, including Merrie Annabelle winner Thatsnotmyname 2,1:55 ($340,730).
Today several major breeders, including Hunterton, have her daughters and/or granddaughters in their broodmare bands to carry on her maternal lineage.
Hunterton Farm’s Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Maumee River Stables purchased Graceful Touch in 2014. She was buried at Hunterton Farm.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Graceful Touch.
(Hunterton Farm)