Grade III winner Z Fortune died suddenly of a heart attack the morning of Aug. 23, his owner, HRTV reporter Carolyn Conley reported via her Twitter account.
"Z was just rounding the bend to recovery from colic," Conley said on Twitter. "So sad; such a nice horse."
Z Fortune, who ran in the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was adopted by Conley in May 2011 from the Lexington-based New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program.
The 7-year-old son of Siphon underwent surgery for colic Aug. 11 at Chino Valley Equine Hospital in California under the care of veterinarian Andreas Klohnen. Following the surgery, Conley reported via Twitter that Z Fortune had experienced a series of ups and downs in health. He suffered from postoperative ileus, an ailment that is common after a strangulating obstruction in the small intestine, causing a decrease in motility.
Z Fortune, who was raced in all his starts by Ahmed Zayat's Zayat Stables, compiled a career record of 3-2-2 from 15 starts, for earnings of $432,942. On the road to the Triple Crown in 2008, Z Fortune won the Lecomte (gr. III) and placed in the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) and Risen Star (gr. III). Later that year, he also placed in the Ohio Derby (gr. III).
Bred in New York by Delehanty Stock Farm, Z Fortune was out of the Fortunate Prospect mare Fortunate Faith.