Liable, Dam of Blame, Dies at Age 29

Liable, the 2010 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year known for producing 2010 Eclipse Award-winning older male and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Blame, died July 19 due to infirmities of old age. The 29-year-old daughter of Seeking the Gold was a homebred for Claiborne Farm, in partnership with Nicole Perry Gorman, out of the grade 1-placed Nijinsky II mare Bound, herself bred by and raced for Claiborne. Adele Dilschneider later assumed Gorman's place in the partnership prior to Liable's racing career. Trained by Frank Brothers, Liable won six of 15 starts from 1998-99. Though she never earned a stakes victory, Liable did pick up allowance wins at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and she finished in the money in the A.P. Indy Stakes at Keeneland and the Wild Flower Stakes at Lone Star Park. Liable retired to Claiborne Farm for her broodmare career, where she produced five winners from six foals. All of Liable's foals began their racing careers as homebreds for Claiborne Farm and Dilschneider. Her most successful runner was Blame, a son of the late Claiborne stallion Arch, whose 2010 campaign was highlighted by a victory over Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Blame, trained by Al Stall Jr., won nine of 13 races and earned more than $4.3 million, with other grade 1 victories in the Whitney Handicap and Stephen Foster Stakes. Blame stood this past season for $25,000 at Claiborne, where he has sired six grade 1 winners and is the broodmare sire of the 2022 champion 2-year-old male, Forte, as well as 2024 graded/group stakes winners Switzerland (AUS), (Speightstown), Honor D Lady (Honor Code), and Tiny Temper (Arrogate). Liable earned Kentucky Broodmare of the Year honors in 2010 on the strength of Blame's season, but she continued her success the following year with Tend, a son of Dynaformer who won a pair of stakes races in 2011. Liable's fillies have carried on her name in the stud book, led by Apt. The daughter of A.P. Indy produced three stakes winners: grade 3-winning millionaire Carve, grade 1-placed stakes winner Apropos—both by Claiborne Farm stallion First Samurai—and group 2-placed stakes winner Sloane Avenue (Candy Ride (ARG)). Claiborne's broodmare band currently includes Liable's daughter Might, a full sister to Blame who produced a War of Will filly in 2024. Liable will be buried in Claiborne's Marchmont Cemetery.