Malibu Moon  , the foundation sire of B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm, died suddenly May 18 in his paddock of an apparent heart attack, according to a release from the Lexington operation. The distinguished son of A.P. Indy was 24.

Malibu Moon has sired 126 black-type winners and 51 graded winners—including 17 grade 1 winners—to date. His progeny are led by 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Orb  , 2004 champion 2-year-old colt Declan’s Moon , and grade 1-winning millionaires over the last dozen years that include Gormley  , Magnum Moon , Life At Ten , Carina Mia , and Come Dancing .

Malibu Moon’s 17 grade 1 winners all came on dirt, representing the second-most by a modern-day sire on that surface only to Tapit  . Malibu Moon perhaps made his greatest impact on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, siring winners of the Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1), and Arkansas Derby (G1), among other key prep races.

He has also been a highly influential broodmare sire in recent years, with his daughters producing the likes of champion Stellar Wind , grade 1 winners Girvin  , By the Moon , Bellafina , and recent Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Midnight Bourbon , among others.