Cozzene, the champion turf male of 1985 and sire of 81 stakes winners, was euthanized on Tuesday at Gainesway Farm in Lexington because of failing health. He was 28.

The Caro (Ire) horse out of Ride the Trails, by Prince John, covered 38 mares in the 2008 season while standing for a private fee. He was buried at Gainesway.

Cozzene sired 1994 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) winner Tikkanen, ’96 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Alphabet Soup, Japanese champion Admire Cozzene, and Canadian champions Cozzene’s Prince, Hasten To Add, and Santa Amelia.

Among his other top progeny are 1993 Arlington Million Stakes (G1) winner Star of Cozzene and '91 Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1) winner Environment Friend.

In 19 crops of racing age, Cozzene sired 540 winners from 724 starters that earned $80,190,795 through Monday. He stood at Gainesway his entire career after winning the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Aqueduct in his final start.

Cozzene is one of only three Breeders’ Cup winners to sire more than one Breeders’ Cup winner, along with Awesome Again and Unbridled. Alphabet Soup’s victory in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Woodbine helped Cozzene rank second on the season’s North American general sire list with $5,031,466 in progeny earnings.

“Cozzene was such a valuable member of the Gainesway family,” farm President Antony Beck said. “His success on the track and as a sire will be remembered forever. He was a fantastic horse.”

Bred and raced by Racing Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud, Cozzene won two other graded stakes races and finished third in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Hollywood Park in 1984. Nerud’s son, Jan, trained Cozzene.

The Florida-bred won ten of 24 career starts and earned $978,152.