Athens, IL — Psychic Spirit, 27, one of the most successful trotting stallions of the last 20 years in Illinois, has died.

Owners Ron and Deloris (Dee) Phillips made the decision to have Psychic Spirit humanely euthanized at their central-Illinois farm this morning, due to the cumulative effects of the horse’s advanced age.

During his racing career, Psychic Spirit won the Hiram Woodruff final at The Meadowlands and two legs of the New Jersey Sires Stakes on his way to a lifetime record of 1:54 and earnings of $311,126. Bred by Castleton Farm, he was a son of Hambletonian winner Armbro Goal and a grandson of breed-shaping stallion Speedy Crown.

Entering stud in Illinois in 2004, Psychic Spirit became the sire of five trotters in 1:55, as well as five Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes champions and three Illinois-bred divisional champions.

His credits include Southern Rocketop, the fastest Illinois-bred juvenile trotter of all time in 1:54.1, as well as fellow divisional champions Rock Hollywood and My Miss Caroline.

Other leading horses sired by Psychic Spirit include Primed N Powerful and Heath Bar, both winners in the Illinois State Fair older divisions, as well as standout pacer RG’s Tracer, who won the Cardinal Stakes at Hawthorne Race Course in 2020.

Raced originally by trainer Tim Bredberg for owner Anna Ruman, Psychic Spirit had been owned for the majority of his stallion career by John Carver of Rock Island, the last nine years of which had included a partnership with the Phillips family.