Millennium Wind, a grade I winner at 3 and a half brother to 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic, was euthanized July 28 at Chaparral Equine Medical Center in Cave Creek, Ariz. The 14-year-old son of Cryptoclearance stood at Little Kentucky near Waddell, Ariz. He was owned by Shawn Haggstrom of Oakmont Stables.
Millennium Wind suffered from a right sided scrotal hernia. After surgery, he developed complications from endotoxemia.
Bred in Kentucky by Parrish Hill Farm, Millennium Wind was sold to Dave and Jill Heerensperger for $1.2 million at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale. In May of that year, Charismatic had won the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Racing for the Heerenspergers, Millennium Wind won the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) and the Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II) and ran second in the Hollywood Futurity (gr. I) and the Louisiana Derby (gr. II). He finished 11th in the 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) at 9-1.
Trained by David Hofmans, Millennium Wind was retired with a record of 3-2-0 from seven starts and earnings of $769,920. He entered stud at Millennium Farms in Kentucky and stood at several other farms before standing at Little Kentucky this year.
Millennium Wind has sired three stakes winners including Mexican group II winner Acatzingo and the earners of more than $4.2 million.
"We were very excited to get this stallion, since he was the first grade I winner to stand in the state of Arizona," Haggstrom said. "He was a very intelligent stallion, and he was one of the best looking stallions I have ever seen. I was very fortunate to have this opportunity to own such a magnificent stallion. He will be truly missed."
Out of the Drone mare Bali Babe, Millennium Wind also was a half brother to grade II winner Tossofthecoin.
