Sire: Belong to Me
Grandsire: Danzig
Dam: Constant Companion
Damsire: Relaunch
Sex: Mare
Foaled: 2004
Country: United States
Colour: Grey
Breeder: White Fox Farm
Owner: Augustin Stable
Trainer: Jonathan E. Sheppard
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Record: 26 Starts: 9 - 5 - 7
Earnings: $2,957,639
Major races: Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2008), Yellow Ribbon Stakes (2008), Beverly D. Stakes (2009)
Awards: Eclipse Award for Outstanding Female Turf Horse (2008)
2008 Eclipse Award Champion Female Turf Horse
Forever Together was a brilliant turf mare who ruled the female grass division in the late 2000s. She was foaled in 2004 and trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard for Augustin Stables, the longtime racing operation of George Strawbridge. Her sire was Belong to Me, a son of Danzig, and her dam was Constant Companion, a daughter of Lord at War. She was a smart, classy bay filly who got better and better with age.
Forever Together developed slowly as a young horse but blossomed at four years old in 2008. She put together a remarkable campaign that summer, winning the Just a Game Stakes at Belmont Park, the Diana Stakes at Saratoga, and the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland in a row. Each win came at the highest level on the grass, and she stamped herself as one of the top mares in training.
The biggest moment came in the fall. The 2008 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf was held at Santa Anita on a synthetic surface. Forever Together, ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, ran a huge race down the stretch and won the championship event. The win earned her the 2008 Eclipse Award for Champion Female Turf Horse, the top honor in her division.
She came back as a five year old in 2009 and proved that her championship season was no fluke. She won the Diana Stakes for the second straight year, a feat very few mares have accomplished, and added the New York Stakes. She retired with 9 wins from 22 starts and earnings of nearly 2.7 million dollars. Forever Together went on to a career as a broodmare for Augustin Stables. She is remembered as one of the best American grass mares of her era and a credit to the patient horsemanship of Jonathan Sheppard.
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