It was beyond-words heartwarming to catch up with 3x Grade 1 winner SIR BEAR (now 28!) and owner Al Smollin at their Florida home today.

SIR BEAR won the '01 G1 @GulfstreamPark H., '99 G1 Met Mile, '98 G1 Cigar Mile...the G3 Texas Mile, G3 Broward, G3 Skip Away, G3 Cornhusker...

...the G3 Excelsior Breeders' Cup H., the G3 Thistledown Breeders' Cup H., a second G3 Broward, and the Jackie Wackie H., among his 19! wins in 71 starts.

He earned 12 seconds, 14 thirds, which included many stakes placings, and made just north of $2.5M during his 8 seasons...

One of the most popular horses in training...how could you not fall in love with a horse named Sir Bear (Sir Leon), who raced for 8 years, all over the country, for great connections?

Al Smollin bred Sir Bear, his also wonderful wife Barbara owned him. Ralph Ziadie trained. ...

SIR BEAR began career 2/22/96, Gulfstream, 2nd, $50K claimer; last start 1/25/2003 Ocala Breeders' Sales, Gulfstream.
He raced at Gulfstream, Calder, Hawthorne, Monmouth, Prairie Meadows, Suffolk, Oaklawn, Santa Anita, Lone Star, Meadowlands, Hialeah, Aqueduct, Belmont, Saratoga.

SIR BEAR lives in a hurricane-proof barn, custom-made for him, with (veterinarian) Al Smollin attentively watching over him and keeping him comfy. He has a girlfriend, Peekablue Sue.

Bear's hay is steamed daily for his health, he's given senior feed - and still has his teeth!