In Excess, an Irish-bred son of Siberian Express who became one of the most dominant sires in California, died May 17 at Vessels Stallion Farm at 26.
Pensioned in 2011, he died from old age infirmities, according to a press release posted on the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association website.
"He was an old man and he’s in a better place," said Vessels farm manager Kevin Dickson. "The last couple of weeks, he just didn’t look like himself."
In Excess was buried on the farm next to another late Vessels stallion, Free House, Dickson said.
A four-time grade I winner on the track, In Excess went on to sire 18 crops with earnings of more than $44 million, including 56 black-type winners such as Musical Chimes, Romance is Diane, Excessivepleasure, Above Perfection, and future stallions Indian Charlie and Notional.
Bred in Ireland by Ahmed Foustok, In Excess’ career began on the grass in England, but his biggest wins were on dirt tracks in New York, where he captured the Suburban, Metropolitan, Woodward, and Whitney handicaps (all gr. I) consecutively in 1991. He earned more than $1.7 million, with 11 wins in 25 starts.
Bruce Jackson trained In Excess for owner Jack Munari.
"He was a very nice horse; my husband Bruce bought him from England for his owner and raced him in the United States his whole career," Marie Jackson wrote on Facebook. "He also was a great sire. He will surely be missed."
In Excess began his stud career at Rancho Why Worry in 1993. He was the Golden State’s leading sire in 2002 and 2003, and leading sire of 2-year-olds in his freshman season of 1996, as well as in 2000, 2002, and 2004.
In Excess sired 16 California champions as well as millionaires Texcess and Valentine Dancer.
"He was basically dropped off at our front door when Mike Pegram went to Kentucky to try and organize for him to stand at stud there," Scoop Vessels, the late owner of the farm, said in 2003 when explaining how In Excess and Vessells connected.
"When In Excess got off the trailer, I fell in love with him. For some reason, I just knew this was the horse for us, so I immediately made a deal over the phone with Mike to purchase half of him."
