Fusaichi Pegasus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fusaichi Pegasus

Sire:	Mr. Prospector
Grandsire:	Raise a Native
Dam:	Angel Fever
Damsire:	Danzig
Sex:	Stallion
Foaled:	1997
Country:	USA (Kentucky)
Colour:	Bay
Breeder:	Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd.
Owner:	Fusao Sekiguchi
Trainer:	Neil Drysdale
Record:	9: 6-2-0
Earnings:	$1,994,400
Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards
Major Racing Wins
San Felipe Stakes (2000) Jerome Handicap (2000) Wood Memorial Stakes (2000) Kentucky Derby (2000)
Infobox last updated on: September 29, 2006.

Fusaichi Pegasus (pronounced [ɸɯ.sa.i.tɕi]) (b. 1997) was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi. His name is a combination of his owner's name, Fusao, and the Japanese word for one, ichi, to mean #1 or the best. The second half is the winged horse of Greek mythology. Fusaichi Pegasus won the Kentucky Derby in 2000. This thoroughbred's time was 2:01.12 around the 1 1/4 mile track. He was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid. After the Kentucky Derby, many believed that he would win the Triple Crown. However, he was defeated by 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.

Born on April 12, 1997, Fusaichi Pegasus is a son of the great stallion Mr. Prospector; "FuPeg" (as the colt is affectionately known by his fans) is out of Angel Fever, a mare by leading sire Danzig. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Fusaichi Pegasus also won the grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, the and grade 2 Jerome Handicap.

In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus was sold to Irish breeder Coolmore Stud for a reported price of more than US$60 million (£35m). The previous record for a stallion prospect was US$40m (£24m), paid in 1983 for Shareef Dancer. Fusaichi Pegasus is currently a "shuttle stallion" standing at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and at Coolmore Australia near Jerry's Plains, New South Wales during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Among his progeny are grade 1 winner Bandini and grade 1 placed Andromeda's Hero.