Fusaichi Pegasus (USA)
April 12, 1997 – May 23, 2023
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Angel Fever (USA), by Danzig (USA)
Family 8-c
April 12, 1997 – May 23, 2023
Mr. Prospector (USA) x Angel Fever (USA), by Danzig (USA)
Family 8-c
A horse of virtually impeccable breeding and conformation, Fusaichi Pegasus was expected to be a good one and was. After his seemingly effortless win in the 2000 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), he was viewed as a virtual lock for the American Triple Crown. Nonetheless, he ended up delivering less than had been expected of him and ended his racing career in a cloud of disappointment. His stud career did not improve on his track record, but he extended his branch of the Mr. Prospector male line through his son Roman Ruler, a two-time champion sire in Argentina.
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,994,400
2000:
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2000 International Classification, tied with Giant's Causeway and Tiznow at the top of that category and 5 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old, Sinndar (who earned his rating in the Long category).
As an individual
A strong, well-made bay standing 16.1½ hands, Fusaichi Pegasus combined the muscular build and excellent balance typical of the best of the Northern Dancer tribe with the strong hindquarters and superior hind leg characteristic of his sire Mr. Prospector. He had a smooth stride and possessed excellent acceleration. He was an extremely strong-willed and quirky horse during his training days and had a reputation for passing temperament issues to his progeny. Unlike most horses, he did not enjoy consistent routine and needed his training varied daily.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Fusaichi Pegasus sired 1186 winners (56.5%) and 76 stakes winners (3.6%) from 2098 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
Per the Stud Book of Chile (www.studbookdechile.cl):
Per Thoroughbred Times:
Notable progeny
Bandini (USA), Bronzo (CHI), Champ Pegasus (USA), Floral Pegasus (AUS), Haradasun (AUS), Ketal (USA), Pegasus Wind (USA), Roman Ruler (USA), Vistoso (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Estrela Monarchos (USA), Fortino (CHI), Hakassan (CHI), There Goes Harvard (USA), Tropical Squall (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fusaichi Pegasus was bred by Arthur Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd. and was sold at the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale for a sale-topping US$4 million. His purchaser was Fusao Sekiguchi, who sent to colt to Neil Drysdale's barn for training. Fusaichi Pegasus was ridden to his Kentucky Derby score by Kent Desormeaux. In June 2000, Sekiguchi sold the colt to Coolmore for a price variously reported from US$60 million up to over US$70 million, eclipsing the previous stallion record of US$40 million paid for Shareef Dancer. Following the deal, major Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida revealed that he and his family had owned a minority interest in the horse since the fall of 1999; this interest was not part of the Coolmore deal. (A later report in the Baltimore Sun of May 7, 2020, stated that Fusaichi Pegasus was sold for stud duty at a valuation of US$72 million, with Coolmore owning 60 percent and the Yoshida family's Shadai Farm owning 40 percent.) Following Fusaichi Pegasus' retirement from racing, he stood as a shuttle sire at Ashford Stud in Kentucky and Coolmore Australia beginning in 2001. He later shuttled to Haras Don Alberto in Chile but stood exclusively in Kentucky after 2010. He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2020.
Pedigree notes
Fusaichi Pegasus is inbred 3x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the racetrack. He is a full brother to Bliss, dam of 2009 Cliff Hanger Stakes (USA-G3) winner Brave Tin Soldier. He is also a half brother to Fortyniner Fever (by Forty Niner), dam of 2007 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Texas Fever (by Victory Gallop) and stakes winners Bold Angel (by Cat Thief; dam of 2015 Starlet Stakes, USA-G1, winner Street Fancy, by Street Sense) and Saint Isabelle (by Saint Liam).
Angel Fever, the dam of Fusaichi Pegasus, was listed stakes-placed in a career lasting only two starts. She is a full sister to 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and a half sister to 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone (by Elocutionist). Their dam Rowdy Angel was a useless race mare, failing to win in 13 starts, but is a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ramten (by Smarten).
The next dam in Fusaichi Pegasus' tail-female line is the stakes-winning Rambunctious mare Ramhyde, whose half sister Castle Star (by Star de Naskra) is the dam of listed stakes winner Flathorn (by Far North). Ramhyde, in turn, is out of Castle Hyde (by Tulyar x Bold Irish, by Fighting Fox), a half sister to the stakes-winning colts The Irishman (by Nasrullah) and Knocklofty (by Parnassus); to 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans (by Native Dancer), dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and the fine racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic); and to Longford (by Menow), dam of 1963 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Castle Forbes (by Tulyar).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Ashford Stud in 2009. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 14, 2023
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,994,400
2000:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won San Felipe Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
Assessments
Rated at 127 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2000 International Classification, tied with Giant's Causeway and Tiznow at the top of that category and 5 pounds below the top-rated 3-year-old, Sinndar (who earned his rating in the Long category).
As an individual
A strong, well-made bay standing 16.1½ hands, Fusaichi Pegasus combined the muscular build and excellent balance typical of the best of the Northern Dancer tribe with the strong hindquarters and superior hind leg characteristic of his sire Mr. Prospector. He had a smooth stride and possessed excellent acceleration. He was an extremely strong-willed and quirky horse during his training days and had a reputation for passing temperament issues to his progeny. Unlike most horses, he did not enjoy consistent routine and needed his training varied daily.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Fusaichi Pegasus sired 1186 winners (56.5%) and 76 stakes winners (3.6%) from 2098 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 6th on the Australian broodmare sire list in 2015/2016.
- 7th on the New Zealand broodmare sire list in 2020/2021.
Per El Turf (www.elturf.com):
- 10th on the Chilean general sire list in 2014.
Per the Stud Book of Chile (www.studbookdechile.cl):
- 10th on the Chilean general sire list in 2014.
- 5th on the Chilean broodmare sire list in 2022.
Per Thoroughbred Times:
- Led the American general sire list in 2010.
Notable progeny
Bandini (USA), Bronzo (CHI), Champ Pegasus (USA), Floral Pegasus (AUS), Haradasun (AUS), Ketal (USA), Pegasus Wind (USA), Roman Ruler (USA), Vistoso (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Estrela Monarchos (USA), Fortino (CHI), Hakassan (CHI), There Goes Harvard (USA), Tropical Squall (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Fusaichi Pegasus was bred by Arthur Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd. and was sold at the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale for a sale-topping US$4 million. His purchaser was Fusao Sekiguchi, who sent to colt to Neil Drysdale's barn for training. Fusaichi Pegasus was ridden to his Kentucky Derby score by Kent Desormeaux. In June 2000, Sekiguchi sold the colt to Coolmore for a price variously reported from US$60 million up to over US$70 million, eclipsing the previous stallion record of US$40 million paid for Shareef Dancer. Following the deal, major Japanese breeder Teruya Yoshida revealed that he and his family had owned a minority interest in the horse since the fall of 1999; this interest was not part of the Coolmore deal. (A later report in the Baltimore Sun of May 7, 2020, stated that Fusaichi Pegasus was sold for stud duty at a valuation of US$72 million, with Coolmore owning 60 percent and the Yoshida family's Shadai Farm owning 40 percent.) Following Fusaichi Pegasus' retirement from racing, he stood as a shuttle sire at Ashford Stud in Kentucky and Coolmore Australia beginning in 2001. He later shuttled to Haras Don Alberto in Chile but stood exclusively in Kentucky after 2010. He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2020.
Pedigree notes
Fusaichi Pegasus is inbred 3x5 to two-time American Horse of the Year Native Dancer and 5x5 to two-time English/Irish champion sire Nearco, an unbeaten champion on the racetrack. He is a full brother to Bliss, dam of 2009 Cliff Hanger Stakes (USA-G3) winner Brave Tin Soldier. He is also a half brother to Fortyniner Fever (by Forty Niner), dam of 2007 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G3) winner Texas Fever (by Victory Gallop) and stakes winners Bold Angel (by Cat Thief; dam of 2015 Starlet Stakes, USA-G1, winner Street Fancy, by Street Sense) and Saint Isabelle (by Saint Liam).
Angel Fever, the dam of Fusaichi Pegasus, was listed stakes-placed in a career lasting only two starts. She is a full sister to 1992 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Pine Bluff and a half sister to 1987 Arkansas Derby (USA-G1) winner Demons Begone (by Elocutionist). Their dam Rowdy Angel was a useless race mare, failing to win in 13 starts, but is a half sister to restricted stakes winner Ramten (by Smarten).
The next dam in Fusaichi Pegasus' tail-female line is the stakes-winning Rambunctious mare Ramhyde, whose half sister Castle Star (by Star de Naskra) is the dam of listed stakes winner Flathorn (by Far North). Ramhyde, in turn, is out of Castle Hyde (by Tulyar x Bold Irish, by Fighting Fox), a half sister to the stakes-winning colts The Irishman (by Nasrullah) and Knocklofty (by Parnassus); to 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans (by Native Dancer), dam of the immortal Ruffian (by Reviewer) and the fine racer and sire Icecapade (by Nearctic); and to Longford (by Menow), dam of 1963 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Castle Forbes (by Tulyar).
Books and media
- Fusaichi Pegasus is profiled in Chapter 13 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Fusaichi Pegasus' Kentucky Derby victory can be accessed in connection with the May 1, 2020, Thoroughbred Daily News article "Twenty Years Later, Fond Memories Remain of Fusaichi Pegasus" (https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/twenty-years-later-fond-memories-remain-of-fusaichi-pegasus/www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/twenty-years-later-fond-memories-remain-of-fusaichi-pegasus/).
Fun facts
- Fusaichi Pegasus' name combines the first name of his owner, the Japanese word ichi (meaning “first” or “number one”) and the name of the winged horse of Greek mythology. The horse was generally known as “Fu Peg” to his fans, though his grooms and hotwalkers usually called him “caballo” or “potro” (respectively, “horse” or “colt” in Spanish).
- Fusaichi Pegasus was nicknamed "Superman" as a foal because of his exceptional physique and presence.
- Fusaichi Pegasus was the first Kentucky Derby favorite to win the great race since Spectacular Bid in 1979.
- Fusaichi Pegasus stood his first Northern Hemisphere stud season for an eye-popping US$150,000, an extremely high price for an unproven sire.
- Fusaichi Pegasus reached the milestone of 75 stakes winners in September 2016 when his daughter Black Mission Fig won the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial Stakes at Prairie Downs.
- A statue of Fusaichi Pegasus stands at the Northern Horse Park on the island of Hokkaido in Japan.
- As of 2023, Fusaichi Pegasus was the most expensive auction yearling to have ever started in the Kentucky Derby.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at Ashford Stud in 2009. Used by permission.
Last updated: October 14, 2023