Trot Insider has learned that popular Alberta sire Freedoms Pass passed away peacefully in his sleep overnight Thursday, July 31 at the age of 20 at owner Samuel Johnson's farm in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Unraced as a two-year-old due to an injury, Freedoms Pass was brought back to the races late in his three-year-old season and made just two starts. Johnson purchased Freedoms Pass at the 1997 Harrisburg Sale with the intent to breed the son of Artsplace out of the Nihilator mare Freedom Aloft, a half-brother to sub-1:50 pacer Dr Drew ($520,861). His dam is a half-sibling to Leah Almahurst ($1,053,201), Firm Belief ($625,801) and Looking For Art ($433,983).

"I bought him to breed and a friend of mine who trains some horses at my place said, 'if that was my horse I would put him back in training and race him a bit,'" said Johnson. "This was after the breeding season, so I did."

Freedoms Pass went undefeated at Northlands Park, winning six races in late 1998 and early 1999 before Johnson decided to quit with him with a large book of mares awaiting the breeding season.

"He was an absolute gentleman, just a perfect stallion," said Johnson. "He was a very smart horse and he's passed a lot of that on to his colts."

His progeny has earned over $8 million, with an average of $49,745 per starter. In 2005, Freedoms Pass ranked in the top 10 of North American stallions for three-year-old average earnings.

Twenty-three of his offspring have earned over $100,000 including stake winners Patriot Dream ($492,261), Freedoms My Style ($367,302), Jennas Pass ($290,378), Blue Star Secret ($272,406), Maximum Pass ($215,832), Pauls Pass ($208,350), Barona Ice ($200,756) and Blue Star Royalty ($200,110).

"He bred quite a few mares in the early stages of his career and now a number of his daughters have been bred," noted Johnson. Campasser, the fastest progeny of Camystic with a 1:51.1 mark, is out of the Freedoms Pass dam Dream Passer. In addition, last year's champion Two-Year-Old Filly of the Year in Alberta, Nighttraintovegas, is out of the Freedoms Pass dam Midnight In Vegas.

One of his most recent accomplishments is Pass The Port, an Alberta Two-Year-Old Colt of the Year finalist last year who just took a mark of 1:54.1 in his most recent start at Alberta Downs.

"He was a great horse and had a good life," said Johnson of the beloved stallion. "He was always well looked after."

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Freedoms Pass.