It is not unusual that a retired racehorse with a new job goes by another name, something shorter and more affectionate than the racing name. Afleet’s Star, however, was known by his racing name after he retired from a short career at the track and it was only years later than he was re-named Buttermilk, for the ingredient that saved his life.
A foal of 2004, Afleet’s Star was bred in Ontario by Cam Allard and Montpelier Thoroughbreds Inc. His sire, A Fleet’s Dancer, was Allard’s graded stakes winner trained by Roger Attfield and his dam, Unbridled Dancer, had a strong pedigree being by Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. The lineage power was there, but after one start for Allard, it was evident that Afleet’s Star simply did not possess enough speed for racing.
Allard offered to give the horse to his trainer Reade Baker, who had managed the career of Afleet, the Horse of the Year in 1987 and the grandsire of Afleet’s Star. Baker too tried to race the gentle bay.