Blue Blue Sea

Blue Blue Sea was sold by Wynformere Farm during the Keeneland November Mixed sale in 1999 to Clouston Farm in Ocala, Florida. There, he was started under saddle and was sold in the Ocala Breeders Sale of Two Year Olds in April 2001. He raced three times at Rockingham Park and five races at Suffolk Downs, between 2001–2002. In June 2002, he returned to Rockingham Park and broke his maiden on August 25, 2002. During his career, he raced mostly in claiming races and had a number of different owners. His last official race was at Charles Town in race 3 on February 13, 2004.[3]

In 2004, Blue Blue Sea was owned by Donald L. Demeza.[3] Demeza listed Blue Blue Sea on the CANTER-Mid-Atlantic (at the time West Virginia) website. From that site, Prather saw his listing and eventually purchased the horse with the plans to train him to be a show jumper.[2]

In August 2006, Blue Blue Sea colicked five times in the course of the month. Local veterinarians referred the case to the Marion Scott Dupont Center in Leesburg, VA. There, the horse was diagnosed with a malabsorption disorder. The prognosis was grave with a 1–2 year life expectancy. A nutritionist veterinarian formulated several new diets and with careful management, Blue Blue Sea managed to thrive. In 2011, Prather started a Facebook page for Blue Blue Sea,[4] which linked thousands of followers from around the world, some who suffered from an illness as well. These friends banded together to raise funds to fly Gran Huracan, Blue Blue Sea's half-brother, from Puerto Rico to a rescue in Florida.[5]

On the evening of February 8, 2013, Prather went to the barn where Blue Blue Sea was his usual energetic self. The next morning, February 9, 2013, the horse was found dead. There were no signs to suggest that Blue Blue Sea colicked in the night. It appeared that he had simply fallen over dead, possibly from an aneurysm. Prather had him cremated in Boonsboro, Maryland. [6] In 2015, Shoo-Fly Publications published Blue Blue Sea Finds His Cape, a children's book based on the life of Blue Blue Sea, written by Prather and featuring illustrations by Hayley Mullins. [7]

Since the book's release, Prather and Mullins have attended a variety of events from The Gaithersburg Book Festival, the Secretariat Festival, book signings at Turfway Park and Pimlico for the Black-Eyed Susan Day and events benefiting non-profits such as the Equines in the Vines Event for the Foxie G. Foundation. Currently, Prather is finalizing the writing for volume 2, tentatively titled: Team Blue Blue Sea Saves the Day, about the rescue of Blue Blue Sea's younger brother, Gran Huracan, from Puerto Rico.