Fusaichi Pegasus, who sold for $4 million as a yearling and then lived up to those expectations by winning the 2000 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, died May 23. He was 26.

Coolmore reported the passing of the classic-winning son of Mr. Prospector, noting he was euthanized at Ashford Stud May 23 because of the infirmities of old age. He stood at Ashford from 2001 until 2020, when he was pensioned.
Bred by Arthur Hancock and Bob and Janice McNair’s Stonerside Farm, ‘Fu Peg’ as he widely became known, was purchased for that $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi at the 1998 Keeneland July Sale of Selected Yearlings from Stone Farm. Trained by Neil Drysdale, Fusaichi Pegasus took the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) before winning the 2000 Derby as the favorite and finishing second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) 14 days later.
Fusaichi Pegasus went on to sire six champions worldwide and grade 1 winners including Roman Ruler , Champ Pegasus , Haradasun , and Bandini , while Southern Hemisphere stints at Haras Don Alberto and Haras Philipson yielded Chilean Horse of the Year Bronzo and champion miler Telamon. He was also the broodmare sire of 2023 Chilean Triple Crown winner Fortino.
He also sired Listed Olympic Duel Stakes winner Our Table Mountain -South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2015-2016.