Pleasantly Perfect (Pleasant Colony–Regal State, by Miswaki), who completed a historic Breeders’ Cup four-timer for trainer Richard Mandella in the 2003 GI Classic and went on to sire a trio of top-level winners, passed away Wednesday in Turkey. He was 22 years old and died of natural causes.

Bred in Kentucky by Clovelly Farms, Pleasantly Perfect was purchased by Gerald Ford’s Diamond A Racing Corp. for $725,000 at the 1999 Keeneland September sale. Turned over to Mandella, the strapping bay won back-to-back runnings of the GII Goodwood Breeders’ Cup H. in 2002 and 2003 before upsetting Medaglia d’Oro (El Prado {Ire}) at 14-1 in that year’s Classic (see below) at Santa Anita, adding to victories by Action This Day (Kris S.) in the Juvenile, Halfbridled (Unbridled) in the Juvenile Fillies and Johar (Gone West) in the Turf (dead-heat). There were just eight Breeders’ Cup races run at that time.

Pleasantly Perfect slugged it out again with Medaglia d’Oro in the 2004 G1 Dubai World Cup, prevailing by a hard-fought three-parts of a length (video) before adding the GI Pacific Classic. He was retired to Lane’s End after finishing third to Ghostzapper in defense of his Classic title with nine wins from 18 starts and earnings of nearly $7.8 million.

TDN