Grade 2 winner WILD WONDER (Wild Again) died Wednesday of an apparent
ruptured aorta at Buck Pond Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. The 12-year-old was
entering his seventh year at stud and his first season at Buck Pond Farm.
Wild Wonder earned $639,036 from a 20-9-5-4 career line that stretched over
four years of racing. Trained throughout his career by Greg Gilchrist, the gray
recorded seven black-type wins, including the 1998 Mervyn LeRoy H. (G2), Longacres Mile H. (G3)
and All-American H. (G3). He also placed in nine other stakes and was off the
board only twice, those coming as a fourth in the 1997 Lone Star Derby and a
fifth in the 1998 San Francisco Mile H. (G2).
At stud, Wild Wonder has been represented by three crops of racing age, with
his fourth gearing up this season. His most famous offspring, Wild Fit and
Fusaichi Rock Star, came into the spotlight last year. Wild Fit captured the Del
Mar Debutante S. (G1) in only her second career start and finished second in the
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). She was listed third on the 2005
Experimental Free Handicap at 120 pounds. Fusaichi Rock Star, the older
full brother to Wild Fit, scored in the San Vicente S. (G2) in 2005. The two are
out of the unraced Grannies Feather (At Full Feather) and have a yearling full
brother named Mighty Work.
To date, Wild Wonder’s progeny have earned more than $2.4 million.