Free House raced four years for his breeders, Trudy McCaffery and John
Toffan, winning eight stakes and races at distances between six furlongs and 1 1/4 miles. The California-bred son of Smokester
established himself as one of the best representatives of his generation and was known particularly for his duels through
the Triple Crown season with eventual champion Silver Charm.
Trained by Paco Gonzalez, Free House won the 1997 Santa Anita Derby (G1) by a head over Silver Charm and then finished
third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He returned to finish just a head behind Silver Charm in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and was
third in the Belmont Stakes (G1) won by Touch Gold with Silver Charm second.
A tough and durable campaigner, Free House returned to the West Coast to win the Swaps Stakes (G2), defeating Deputy Commander
and Wild Rush, and then finished third to Touch Gold in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (G1) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
In 1998, Free House won the $1-million Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, defeating Gentlemen (Arg) by four lengths.
The following year, he captured the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap (G1), in which Silver Charm finished third.
Free House was retired after incurring an injury while finishing second to Real Quiet in the 1999 Pimlico Special Handicap
(G1). He won nine of 22 career starts, placed eight times, and earned $3,178,971.
Due to the exploits of House of Fortune, who won the $125,000 California Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Cover Gal Stakes
last year in addition to finishing third in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (G1), Free House quickly made a name for himself
in the California stallion ranks. This year, House of Fortune has won the Fantasy Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park and the Hollywood
Breeders’ Cup Oaks (G2).
Through Monday, Free House, who was ten and stood for a $15,000 fee, had sired 14 winners from 39 starters who have earned
$902,467 to rank him 20th among second-crop sires.
A striking gray, Free House was the only winning foal from four to race out of the stakes-winning Vigors mare Fountain
Lake.
