Crown Ambassador, the all-time leading sire in Indiana, was euthanized July 7 at Don and Dana Myers’ Swifty Farms in Seymour, Ind., due to the effects of degenerative arthritis is his stifle.
The 15-year-old son of Storm Cat was leading sire in Indiana by progeny earnings in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006. From 10 crops of racing age, Crown Ambassador’s progeny have earned more than $4.66 million and included 12 stakes winners (7.8% from 154 named foals). Top earners for Crown Ambassador have been multiple stakes winner Pass Rush, winner of the 2003 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. II) who stands at Swifty Farms; Ellens Lucky Star, a seven-time stakes winner at Indiana tracks; and Indiana Stallion Stakes winner Nightly Ritual.
According to Mort Shirazi of Swifty Farms, Crown Ambassador was pensioned prior to the 2008 breeding season but was brought back into service on a limited basis for 2009. Shirazi said the stallion was bred to five mares this year, with four pronounced in foal and insufficient time to know the status of the fifth.
Bred in Kentucky by Flaxman Holdings, Crown Ambassador won two of nine starts and earned $92,246. He finished second in the 1997 Surfside Stakes and was third in both the Danka Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II) and Spectacular Bid Stakes (gr. III) that same year.