Fusaichi Pegasus
| Fusaichi Pegasus | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Fusaichi Pegasus | |
| Sire | Mr. Prospector |
| Grandsire | Raise a Native |
| Dam | Angel Fever |
| Damsire | Danzig |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1997 |
| Country | USA |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Arthur B. Hancock III and Stonerside Ltd. |
| Owner | Fusao Sekiguchi |
| Trainer | Neil Drysdale |
| Record | 9: 6-2-0 |
| Earnings | $1,994,400 |
| Major wins | |
| San Felipe Stakes (2000) Jerome Handicap (2000) Wood Memorial Stakes (2000) American Classic Race wins: Kentucky Derby (2000) | |
| Honours | |
| Statue at Northern Horse Park, Hokkaidō, Japan | |
| Last updated on September 29, 2006 | |
Fusaichi Pegasus (Japanese pronunciation: [ɸɯsa.itɕi]) (foaled April 12, 1997) was purchased as a yearling for $4 million by Fusao Sekiguchi. His name is a combination of his owner's name, "Fusao," and the Japanese word for one, "ichi," to mean #1 or the best. The second half is the winged horse of Greek mythology. Fusaichi Pegasus won the Kentucky Derby in 2000 in a time of 2:01.12 for the 11⁄4 mile distance. He was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979. He then lost to Red Bullet in the Preakness Stakes. After his loss in the Preakness Stakes, he did not race in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.
"FuPeg", as the stallion is known by his fans, is a son of Mr. Prospector and out of Angel Fever, a mare by leading sire Danzig. In addition to the Kentucky Derby, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Jerome Handicap.
In 2000, he was sold to Irish breeder Coolmore Stud for a reported price of more than US$60 million (£35m). The previous record for a stallion prospect was US$40m (£24m), paid in 1983 for Shareef Dancer. For several years, Fusaichi Pegasus served as a "shuttle stallion" standing at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky, during the Northern Hemisphere breeding season and at Coolmore Australia near Jerrys Plains, New South Wales, during the Southern Hemisphere breeding season. Since the 2010 breeding season, he has stood exclusively in Kentucky. Among his progeny are Grade 1 winners Bandini and Haradasun.
Fusaichi Pegasus is generally considered a disappointment as a stallion, especially considering the price for which Sekiguchi sold him. His son Roman Ruler produced Ruler on Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes.
Fusaichi Pegasus is the sire of International Star, the highest points earner on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in 2015 with 171 points. He won the 2015 Louisiana Derby, Risen Star Stakes, Lecomte Stakes, and the 2014 Grey Stakes as a two year old. He also won his maiden race. However, the day of the Kentucky Derby he was found to have had an ankle chip, therefore he was scratched. He is currently in recovery. Had he ran in the Derby he would have started at post number 12 and gone off at odds of 18-1.
International Star is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey.