Grade 2-scoring millionaire Irap has been euthanized after developing laminitis, his connections announced Friday.
Owners Paul and Zillah Reddam of Reddam Racing LLC posted the following statement on trainer Doug O’Neill’s Racing Stable Facebook page:
It is with great sadness that we heard today that Irap has developed laminitis. Not wanting him to suffer, we have made the decision to euthanize him. We would like to thank Dr. Dean Richardson and his team at New Bolton for doing their best with Irap, as well as Dr. Ryan Carpenter for showing his compassion by jumping on a plane when he learned of Irap’s injury. We also want to thank Doug O’Neill and his entire staff for the wonderful care they took of Irap throughout his racing career. Irap provided many thrills over the past year and he changed from maiden to graded stakes winner overnight. He developed into a top race horse who carried himself with tremendous dignity and a level of class that is rare. We count ourselves lucky to have been part of his life for an all too brief time. – The Reddams
Irap was recovering after suffering a career-ending lateral sesamoid fracture of his left front during the running of the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on September 23. The bay son of Tiznow was vanned off after finishing second to West Coast in that contest.
The Kentucky-bred colt underwent surgery just two days later at New Bolton Center in Pennsylvania and appeared to be recuperating well since. The following video was posted on O’Neill’s Facebook page September 27:
Irap earned $1,672,600 during his two years on track while racking up a 13-3-4-2 career mark. He placed in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) as a juvenile as well as the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and Mine That Bird Derby to kick off his sophomore campaign.
The bay colt was still seeking his first career victory, though, when he entered the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland on April 8, and exited that contest a three-quarter length winner. That, along with his earlier placings, earned him a shot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) where he finished 18th.
Irap returned to gut out a nose score in the Ohio Derby (G3) and romp by five lengths in the Indiana Derby (G3). He ran third in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga before closing out his career in the Penn Derby.
Irap is out of the Storm Cat mare Silken Cat, a Canadian champion whose first registered foal is champion sprinter and leading sire Speightstown.
