Fusaichi Pegasus
Encyclopedia
Fusaichi Pegasus (foaled April 12, 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
in 1979. 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
.
"FuPeg", as the stallion is affectionately known by his fans, is a son of Mr. Prospector
and 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
and 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
. For several years, Fusaichi Pegasus served as a "shuttle stallion" standing at Coolmore's Ashford Stud
near Versailles, Kentucky
during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and at Coolmore Australia near Jerrys Plains, New South Wales during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, but as of the 2010 breeding season stands exclusively in Kentucky. Among his progeny are Grade 1 winners Bandini and Haradasun
.
Fusaichi Pegasus has generally been a disappointment as a stallion, especially considering the price for which Sekiguchi sold him to the breeders. His offspring have frequently inherited his ornery disposition but only a fraction of his ability. Still, his son Roman Ruler did produce Ruler on Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes. Since Ruler on Ice is a gelding, he will not be able to pass along the results of one of the rare successful matings from the Fusaichi Pegasus line.
Fusao Sekiguchi
is a businessman and Thoroughbred horse racing enthusiast. He is the Chairman of the Board and majority shareholder of Venture Safe Net, Inc of Tokyo....
. 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
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
of Greek mythology. Fusaichi Pegasus won the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
in 2000. This thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
's time was 2:01.12 around the 1 1/4 mile track. He was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
since Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid
Spectacular Bid was an American Thoroughbred race horse. "The Bid" as he was known was one of the most dominant gallopers of his time...
in 1979. After the Kentucky Derby, many believed that he would win the Triple Crown. However, he was defeated by Red Bullet
Red Bullet
Red Bullet is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2000 Preakness Stakes. Bred and raced by auto parts magnate Frank Stronach, he was sired by Unbridled, the 1990 American Champion 3-Year-Old Male Horse and winner of that year's Breeders' Cup Classic...
in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. After his loss in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, he did not race in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
.
"FuPeg", as the stallion is affectionately known by his fans, is a son of Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
and out of Angel Fever, a mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
by leading sire Danzig
Danzig (horse)
Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale...
. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Fusaichi Pegasus also won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes
San Felipe Stakes
The San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
and Jerome Handicap
Jerome Handicap
The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup....
.
In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus was sold to Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
breeder Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
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
Shareef Dancer
Shareef Dancer was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and based at his family's Godolphin Stables in England....
. For several years, Fusaichi Pegasus served as a "shuttle stallion" standing at Coolmore's Ashford Stud
Ashford Stud
Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky is the American arm of the international commercial Thoroughbred horse breeding operation Coolmore Stud of County Tipperary in the Republic of Ireland.Twelve stallions will stand at Ashford Stud in 2011....
near Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and at Coolmore Australia near Jerrys Plains, New South Wales during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, but as of the 2010 breeding season stands exclusively in Kentucky. Among his progeny are Grade 1 winners Bandini and Haradasun
Haradasun
Haradasun is a notable brown Australian Thoroughbred racehorse by Fusaichi Pegasus from Circles of Gold by Marscay. His sire is a Kentucky Derby winner by champion sire Mr Prospector....
.
Fusaichi Pegasus has generally been a disappointment as a stallion, especially considering the price for which Sekiguchi sold him to the breeders. His offspring have frequently inherited his ornery disposition but only a fraction of his ability. Still, his son Roman Ruler did produce Ruler on Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes. Since Ruler on Ice is a gelding, he will not be able to pass along the results of one of the rare successful matings from the Fusaichi Pegasus line.