Angel Fever, Dam of Fusaichi Pegasus, Dies at Age 14

Angel Fever, the dam of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Fusaichi Pegasus, has died as a result of injuries she sustained in a paddock accident on Jan. 30 at Arthur B. Hancock III's Stone Farm in Paris, Ky.

The 14-year-old mare, who was in foal to Seeking the Gold, fractured her pelvis and severed a major artery. She was owned in partnership by Hancock and Robert McNair, who purchased her at the 1994 Keeneland November breeding stock sale for $525,000.

A daughter of Danzig produced from the Halo mare Rowdy Angel, Angel Fever was a full sister to grade 1 winner Pine Bluff.

"From the beginning, Angel Fever was a very special mare to me," said Hancock. "This is a tragedy, but we were blessed to have been a part of her life."

In addition to Fusaichi Pegasus, who brought the top price of $4-million at the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale, Angel Fever produced six other foals for the partnership. Included in her additional foals are a weanling filly and a yearling colt, both sired by Mr. Prospector and each of whom brought $1-million at auction; Bless, a 5-year-old mare by Mr. Prospector, who sold in-foal to Storm Cat for $4 million at the 2002 Keeneland November sale; and Blithe, a 3-year-old filly by Unbridled retained by Hancock and McNair.