NEWS
Poker winner Sailor’s Cap collapses, dies
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 11:22 AM
SAILOR'S CAP
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Jeff Lowe
Sailor’s Cap collapsed and died in his stall at Belmont Park on Wednesday morning, three days after winning the Poker Handicap (G3).
The cause of death was not immediately known. An autopsy will be performed at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Team Valor International owned the four-year-old Distant View colt out of Wave On, by Caveat.
“He spiked a temperature during the day on Tuesday and simply collapsed early in the morning,” trainer Jimmy Toner said. “We are all in complete shock over this turn of events.”
Sailor’s Cap won the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes (G3) (video) and finished second or third in three other stakes last year, including a third-place finish in the Virginia Derby (G2) (video). He scored by 1¼ lengths on soft turf in the Poker (video), which was his first start since November 30.
Team Valor principal Barry Irwin raced Sailor’s Cap’s second dam, 1989 Honeymoon Handicap (G3) winner Hot Option, in another partnership and said she was the best American-based filly or mare he has ever owned.
“Sailor’s Cap had the same explosive turn of foot as Hot Option,” Irwin said. “He was just coming into his own. This shows the highs and lows of this game. It is a tough nut to swallow.”
Bred in Kentucky by Wave On LLC, Sailor’s Cap won four of ten career starts and earned $616,970.
Jeff Lowe is a THOROUGHBRED TIMES staff writer
