Lil Indy, dam of champion Maximum Security, dies at the age of 14

Jane Lyon, owner of Summer Wind Farm, has announced the loss of Lil Indy, the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner and 2019 champion three-year-old colt Maximum Security, at the age of 14.

"It is with deep sadness I have to announce the passing of Lil Indy, the dam of Maximum Security," Lyon posted on Facebook. "She died foaling a beautiful Curlin filly on Saturday evening. While she graced Summer Wind Farm for a far too short time, she captured our hearts with her sweet demeanour and beautiful spirit. She will always remain in our hearts. Godspeed Lil Indy, you were loved here."

Bred in Florida by Anna Renee McCollum, the daughter of Anasheed out of the multiple stakes-winning Cresta Lil had a modest career on the track but seemed to steadily outperform what was expected from her.

Steven Reed bought her as a yearling at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale for $2,200 after she had been bought back as a weanling on a final bid of $10,000. Lil Indy went on to win twice from 19 starts and earn $37,690.

She was then offered at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2011, the year her half-brother Flat Out won the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes and Suburban Handicap. The broodmare prospect was bought back again at a final bid of $70,000 and wound up in the hands of Charlotte Burns, who bred her first foal named Lily Of The Nile, a daughter of Pioneerof The Nile.

Maximum Security: top-class son of Lil IndyCredit: Jessie Holmes / Equisport Photos

Lil Indy, back in foal to Pioneerof The Nile, was sold thorough the 2014 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale for $80,000 to Ben Glass, the long-time racing and bloodstock manager for Gary and Mary West.

The Wests bred Lil Indy twice to their stallion New Year's Day and on the second mating produced Maximum Security. By November 2018, Lil Indy had produced two winners from three to race, while Maximum Security had yet to make his first start, which he would do in December of his two-year-old year that season.

The Wests then put Lil Indy through the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where an entity named Triple Crown bought her for $11,000 in foal to New Year's Day. Korean breeder Kim Yeong Nam is listed as the breeder of the resulting filly, who was never named.

Then came Maximum Security, who won the Florida Derby, Haskell Invitational and Cigar Mile Handicap at three, and Lil Indy was back in the auction ring at the Keeneland November Sale in foal to Quality Road. Lyon bought Lil Indy out of the Lane's End consignment for $1.85 million.

"I think she is a lovely mare and she has obviously produced a superb three-year-old, and hopefully she can do it some more," Lyon said after the purchase. "You know me, I don't know where my maximum [price] is. Every one of my advisers was very excited about this mare. They put her at the top of my list."

For Lyon, Lil Indy has a Quality Road yearling colt called Qualified and the Curlin filly produced this year has been named Greatest Gift.

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