BLANCO, TX—JULY 1, 2013—Corona Chick, one of the greatest broodmare's in AQHA history, died June 26 of natural causes at the age of 24. She was laid to rest at Hawn Holt Cross Triangle Ranch near Blanco, Texas.

Her owner Julianna Hawn Holt said "It was an honor to know her and a privilege to own her."

Bennie Greathouse, manager of Hawn Holt Cross Triangle Ranch, told TRACK Magazine Corona Chick became ill on the evening of June 25 and they watched her throughout the night. He said she ate on the morning of the 26 and then decided to lie down for a while. A short while after that the three-time champion daughter of Chicks Beduino died. Greathouse said that Corona Chick was never ill and that she never had an injection for illness.

“Corona Chick was one of a kind in many ways," Greathouse said. "She was not hard to get along with, but she liked to have her way. She was very special.”

Named the AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old/Two-Year-Old Filly of 1991 and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly of 1992, Corona Chick won 15 of 18 career starts earning $591,326. Among her stakes wins were the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity(G1), Dash For Cash Futurity(G1), Kindergarten Futurity(G1), Governor's Cup Derby(RG1) and Governor's Cup Futurity(RG2).

Owned and bred by Robert Etchandy and conditioned by Frank Monteleone, the speedy filly set a new track record of :19.630 seconds for 400 yards at Hollywood Park and a new track record of :17.220 for 350 yards at Los Alamitos Race Course.

However great her success was on the track, Corona Chick's greatest accomplishments came as a mother. A former AQHA Racing Broodmare of the Year, her foals have earned a record $3,624,177. Among her offspring is leading money earner and All American Futurity winner Corona Cash ($1,504,298); Grade 1 winner and a leading third crop sire Valiant Hero ($668,633); All-time leading living sire of money earners Corona Cartel ($557,142); stakes winner and leading sire Corona Czech ($125,759), Grade 1 placed and first crop sire Mighty Corona ($309,216), Grade 1 placed and a leading second crop sire Captain Courage ($213,251), stakes-placed Coco Corona ($37,414), etc.

Perhaps the most incredible accomplishment of Corona Chick was her ability to produce high selling yearlings over the years that averaged $372,700. Following her first foal, who sold for $43,000, her offspring have brought final bids of $170,000, $230,000, $120,000, $500,000, $700,000, $500,000, $300,000, $450,000, $500,000, $415,000, $275,000, $530,000, $200,000 and $650,000.

Her current three-year-old A Dash For Sweet Heat, sold as a yearling at the Ruidoso summer sale for $650,000, was repurchased at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale by Mrs. Holt for $1,000,000. The Mr Jess Perry filly is in training at Ruidoso Downs.

Corona Chick’s final foal, a two-year-old filly by Walk Thru Fire, was in training earlier this year but is currently turned out at Hawn Holt Cross Triangle Ranch and is expected to return to training next season.