Graded stakes winner Odysseus, a hot contender on this year’s Triple Crown trail, was euthanized Aug. 9 at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute near Lexington because of complications from laminitis while receiving treatment for colitis. The son of Malibu Moon hadn’t run since finishing unplaced in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) April 10 at Keeneland for Satish and Anne Sanan’s Padua Stables.
“Our family is deeply saddened by the loss of Odysseus,” Satish Sanan said. “He gave us thrills as a race horse, and it is a big loss for us not to see him fulfill his racing potential.”
Following a 15-length allowance score at Tampa Bay Downs in February, Odysseus won the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) March 13 in just his fourth start and catapulted to fifth on Steve Haskin’s Derby Dozen. Haskin came away impressed with the colt’s “sheer grit and the ability to hit a hole with a vengeance.”
Odysseus’ beaten foes in the $300,000 race included Super Saver , the subsequent Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner. In the Blue Grass, Odysseus came out of the race with a hyper extended knee. While undergoing treatment, Sanan remained hopeful Odysseus would make a successful return to racing.
Odysseus was retired with three wins from five starts and earnings of $223,670. He was trained by Tom Albertrani.
Padua purchased Odysseus for $250,000 at the 2009 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March sale of 2-year-olds in training from Nick de Meric, agent. It was de Meric who suggested to Sanan that Odysseus was worth a good look at the sale.
Haymarket Farm and Lakemont Stable were the breeders of Kentucky-bred Odysseus. A half-brother to stakes winner Once Around and stakes-placed Persimmon Honey, Odysseus was produced from the Conquistador Cielo mare Persimmon Hill and was from the female family of champion De La Rose.