Flemington, NJ – It is with great sadness that Deo Volente Farms announces that Little Miss K passed away peacefully on Friday (May 29). She was 23 years old.
Little Miss K was a cornerstone of Deo Volente Farms whose influence extended far beyond the racetrack. She was one of the leading pacing fillies of her generation before becoming one of the most important broodmares in the farm’s history.
Trained by Erv Miller, Little Miss K enjoyed a brief but remarkable racing career, earning $530,089 at 2 years old. Her signature victory came in the $578,088 She’s A Great Lady Stakes final at Mohawk Raceway, where she captured the prestigious event in 1:52.2. She also won the Champlain Stakes and the Lexington Selected Sale Stake, and finished second in the $452,098 Three Diamonds final after winning her elimination. Little Miss K qualified for the Breeders Crown before an injury prematurely ended a racing career that had established her among the top freshman pacing fillies in North America.
Following her retirement from racing, Little Miss K became one of the foundation mares of Deo Volente Farms and a driving force behind the farm’s breeding program alongside Worldly Beauty, Lisheen, and Lisjune.
Throughout her distinguished broodmare career, Little Miss K produced 14 foals, including some of the most successful horses bred by Deo Volente Farms. Her daughter Empress Deo ($688,159) became a multiple Open stakes and feature winner while Reigning Deo ($682,889) developed into a standout pacer. Her final foal, Everlast Sting Deo ($106,886), continued the family’s winning tradition before Little Miss K retired from broodmare duties in 2023 and even won a race at Harrah’s Philadelphia by 7-3/4 lengths on May 31, two days after his dam’s passing.
Following her retirement as a broodmare, Little Miss K lived the rest of her days in comfort and care at the farm. Collectively, her offspring earned well over $2 million, cementing her legacy as one of Deo Volente Farms’ most influential broodmares.
“I have known Little Miss K since the day she was born at Perretti Farms,” said Fidencio Cervantez, farm manager at Deo Volente Farms. “To see her go from a foal into one of the most important mares in our program was something special. It feels like I lost a child.”
“I am upset by Little Miss K’s passing,” said Michael J. Gulotta, CEO of Deo Volente Farms. “I owned her mother Lady Mattingly, and for 23 years, I’ve had the privilege of watching Little Miss K develop from a talented racehorse into an extraordinary broodmare. Losing her is like losing a family member.”
Gulotta went on to say, “Some horses leave behind statistics; others leave behind a legacy. Little Miss K did both. She gave us unforgettable moments on the racetrack, exceptional offspring, and a family of horses that will continue to represent her for generations. Her stall may be empty, but her presence will always remain a part of Deo Volente Farms.”