Fusaichi Pegasus
- San Felipe Stakes (2000)
- Jerome Handicap (2000)
- Wood Memorial Stakes (2000)
- Kentucky Derby (2000)
Fusaichi Pegasus (Japanese: フサイチペガサス, Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯ̥saꜜitɕi pegasas]; April 12, 1997 – May 23, 2023) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and subsequently set a record at auction—selling for US$70M to Coolmore Stud.
Background
The colt was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi, which is the highest price paid for a Kentucky Derby winner.[2][3] His name is a combination of his owner's name, "Fusao", and the Japanese word for one, "ichi", to mean No. 1 or the best; the second half of his name came from that of a winged horse in Greek mythology.[4][5]
Nicknamed "Fu Peg",[2] he was a son of Mr. Prospector and Angel Fever, a mare by leading sire Danzig.[1]
Racing career
In early 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Wood Memorial Stakes.[2]
Fusaichi Pegasus won the 2000 Kentucky Derby in a time of 2:01.12 for the 11⁄4 mile distance.[6] At the time, it was the seventh fastest time in Kentucky Derby history; by the time of his death, it was the tenth fastest time.[3] He was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979 and the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without winning a race as a two-year-old since Proud Clarion in 1967.[4] He then lost to Red Bullet in the Preakness Stakes. After his loss in the Preakness Stakes, he did not race in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.[3]
Retirement and stud record
In 2000, he was sold to Irish breeder Coolmore Stud for a reported price of more than US$70 million (£35m).[7] The previous record for a stallion prospect was US$40m (£24m), paid in 1983 for Shareef Dancer.[7] During his first decade as a stallion, he split his time between Coolmore's Ashford Stud and Coolmore's Australian breeding operation.[3] He shuttled in 2008 to Haras Don Alberto in Chile,[8] and also shuttled in Uruguay.[9] Among his progeny are Grade 1 winners Bandini, Roman Ruler, Champ Pegasus, and Haradasun.[9]
His son Roman Ruler produced Ruler on Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes.[10] He was pensioned from stud duty after the 2020 breeding season.[11]
Fusaichi Pegasus died on May 23, 2023, at age 26. He was euthanized due to the effects of old age.[9][12]
Pedigree
Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Raise a Native (USA) 1961 | Native Dancer | Polynesian |
---|---|---|---|
Geisha | |||
Raise You | Case Ace | ||
Lady Glory | |||
Gold Digger(USA) 1962 | Nashua | Nasrullah | |
Segula | |||
Sequence | Count Fleet | ||
Miss Dogwood | |||
Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
Natalma | |||
Pas de Nom | Admiral's Voyage | ||
Petitioner | |||
Rowdy Angel (USA) 1979 | Halo | Hail to Reason | |
Cosmah | |||
Ramhyde | Rambunctious | ||
Castle Hyde (Family: 8-c) |
References
- ^ a b c d "Fusaichi Pegasus pedigree". equineline.com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 26". AP News. May 24, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "One of the oldest Kentucky Derby winners dies at 26. He was also the most expensive". Lexington Herald-Leader. May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ a b Nack, William (May 15, 2000). "Triple Threat Fusaichi Pegasus started his drive for horse racing's elusive prize with a spectacular win in the Kentucky Derby". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Rovell, Darren (May 6, 2020). "Hype, Luck and Mystery: The Story of Fusiachi Pegasus and the Most Valuable Horse Race in History". The Action Network. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "2000 Kentucky Derby". kentuckyderby.com.
- ^ a b "The Most Expensive Racehorse Ever Sold". eventingguide.com. September 12, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ Fusaichi Pegasus to Chile, Thoroughbred News, June 3, 2008
- ^ a b c Hanson, Vance (May 24, 2023), Fusaichi Pegasus, 2000 Kentucky Derby winner, dies at 26, Brisnet.
- ^ "Roman Ruler Dies". The Blood-Horse. February 7, 2017.
- ^ Russo, Nicole (October 26, 2020). "Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus pensioned". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Karen M. (May 24, 2023). "Highest-Priced Derby Winner Fusaichi Pegasus Dies". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
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- 1875 Aristides
- 1876 Vagrant
- 1877 Baden-Baden
- 1878 Day Star
- 1879 Lord Murphy
- 1880 Fonso
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- 1907 Pink Star
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- 1909 Wintergreen
- 1910 Donau
- 1911 Meridian
- 1912 Worth
- 1913 Donerail
- 1914 Old Rosebud
- 1915 Regret ♥
- 1916 George Smith
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- 1918 Exterminator
- 1919 Sir Barton ₩
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- 1923 Zev
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- 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
- 1931 Twenty Grand
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- 1933 Brokers Tip
- 1934 Cavalcade
- 1935 Omaha ₩
- 1936 Bold Venture
- 1937 War Admiral ₩
- 1938 Lawrin
- 1939 Johnstown
- 1940 Gallahadion
- 1941 Whirlaway ₩
- 1942 Shut Out
- 1943 Count Fleet ₩
- 1944 Pensive
- 1945 Hoop Jr.
- 1946 Assault ₩
- 1947 Jet Pilot
- 1948 Citation ₩
- 1949 Ponder
- 1950 Middleground
- 1951 Count Turf
- 1952 Hill Gail
- 1953 Dark Star
- 1954 Determine
- 1955 Swaps
- 1956 Needles
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- 1958 Tim Tam
- 1959 Tomy Lee
- 1960 Venetian Way
- 1961 Carry Back
- 1962 Decidedly
- 1963 Chateaugay
- 1964 Northern Dancer
- 1965 Lucky Debonair
- 1966 Kauai King
- 1967 Proud Clarion
- 1968 Forward Pass (Dancer's Image disqualified)
- 1969 Majestic Prince
- 1970 Dust Commander
- 1971 Canonero II
- 1972 Riva Ridge
- 1973 Secretariat ₩
- 1974 Cannonade
- 1975 Foolish Pleasure
- 1976 Bold Forbes
- 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
- 1978 Affirmed ₩
- 1979 Spectacular Bid
- 1980 Genuine Risk ♥
- 1981 Pleasant Colony
- 1982 Gato Del Sol
- 1983 Sunny's Halo
- 1984 Swale
- 1985 Spend a Buck
- 1986 Ferdinand
- 1987 Alysheba
- 1988 Winning Colors ♥
- 1989 Sunday Silence
- 1990 Unbridled
- 1991 Strike the Gold
- 1992 Lil E. Tee
- 1993 Sea Hero
- 1994 Go for Gin
- 1995 Thunder Gulch
- 1996 Grindstone
- 1997 Silver Charm
- 1998 Real Quiet
- 1999 Charismatic
- 2000 Fusaichi Pegasus
- 2001 Monarchos
- 2002 War Emblem
- 2003 Funny Cide
- 2004 Smarty Jones
- 2005 Giacomo
- 2006 Barbaro
- 2007 Street Sense
- 2008 Big Brown
- 2009 Mine That Bird
- 2010 Super Saver
- 2011 Animal Kingdom
- 2012 I'll Have Another
- 2013 Orb
- 2014 California Chrome
- 2015 American Pharoah ₩
- 2016 Nyquist
- 2017 Always Dreaming
- 2018 Justify ₩
- 2019 Country House (Maximum Security disqualified)
- 2020 Authentic
- 2021 Mandaloun (Medina Spirit disqualified)
- 2022 Rich Strike
- 2023 Mage
- 2024 Mystik Dan
Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winners, ♥ = Filly