by Pete Denk

Private School, winner of the 1990 Ohio Derby (G2), died at Eutrophia Farms in Chesterland, Ohio, on December 17.

The 20-year-old Bates Motel horse apparently died of an aneurysm, farm manager Elias Delval said.

Private School was standing on behalf of Bob Reeves and covered “a handful of mares” this year, Delval said.

Bred in Kentucky by Bruce Hutson, Private School is out of the multiple stakes-winning Torsion mare Never Wood. Hutson bought him back for $19,000 at the 1988 Keeneland September yearling sale and campaigned him with trainer Donald Habeeb throughout his 42-race career.

As a two-year-old, Private School won three of four starts, including the Turfway Prevue Stakes. At three, he won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway and Ohio Derby at Thistledown and finished second behind eventual champion sprinter Housebuster in the Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Private School l retired with 15 victories, including seven stakes, and earnings of $737,762.

From 118 foals of racing age, Private School has sired 58 winners, including one stakes winner, from 89 starters that have earned $1,964,090 through Tuesday.

Pete Denk is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer