NEWS
Air Forbes Won euthanized at age 30
Posted: Wednesday, December 02, 2009 9:01 PM
by Jeff Lowe
Air Forbes Won, the 1982 Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) winner and sire of champions Mercedes Won and Yanks Music, was euthanized on November 19 because of the infirmities of old age. He was 30.
The Ohio-bred by Bold Forbes had been pensioned since 2000 at Wintergreen Farm in Midway, Kentucky, which was his home for his entire stallion career.
Air Forbes Won was the 2.70-to-1 favorite for the 1982 Kentucky Derby (G1), less than two months after he began his career with a 7½-length win at Aqueduct. He fired off three more victories, including the Gotham Stakes (G2) and Wood Memorial, before he finished seventh to Gato Del Sol in the Derby.
Trained by Frank LaBoccetta for Edward and Judith Anchel, Air Forbes Won made only two subsequent starts, finishing second to Spanish Drums in both the Pennsylvania Derby (G3) and Ohio Derby (G2). He injured a tendon in the latter and was syndicated for $60,000 a share for his stud career.
Mercedes Won emerged from Air Forbes Won’s third crop and was Canada’s champion two-year-old male of 1988, when he swept the Hopeful (G1) and Sanford (G2) Stakes. In 1989, Mercedes Won notched another Grade 1 win in the Florida Derby.
Yanks Music received the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old filly for 1996 after winning the Mother Goose Stakes (G1), Alabama Stakes (G1), Ruffian Handicap (G1), and Beldame Stakes (G1) over her last five starts.
Air Forbes Won also sired graded stakes winners Air Worthy, Badge, Blew By Em, Shawklit Mint, Siggebo, Through Flight among 49 stakes winners in 18 crops. His progeny earned $29,480,551.
The Anchels bought Air Forbes Won for $50,000 at the 1980 Keeneland July select yearling sale from the consignment of Catesby Clay’s Runnymede Farm Inc., agent for breeder Howard Noonan.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
