Big City Man, who defeated champion Indian Blessing in this year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), died July 5 of a strangulated cecum, several hours after a six-furlong work in 1:13.40 at Hollywood Park. Trainer Jeff Mullins said that the colt showed signs of distress and underwent surgery later that day, but that the cecum could not be repaired.
“We treated him for colic after the work, but he never responded,” Mullins said. “We sent him to a clinic, and they got him on the table and opened him up. When they discovered the strangulated cecum, they said there wasn’t anything they could do for him. They told me that it was probably something to do with his anatomy, and that it would have eventually happened no matter what. It was tough.”
Bred in Florida by Four Horsemen’s Ranch, the son of Northern Afleet —Mini Appeal, by Valid Appeal won three of four races, including two stakes, at Calder as a 2-year-old in 2007. He did not race as a 3-year-old, and this year at 4 in Dubai he won three of his four races, losing only to Gayego in the March 5 Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-III).
Big City Man was first sold at the 2006 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s winter mixed sale. Consigned by Four Horsemen’s Ranch, he was purchased by Freddie Hyatt for $15,000. Sold later that year at the OBS August auction, he was consigned by Summerfield and purchased by Mr. T Stables, Jose Pinchin, agent, for $45,000.
He made his first four starts for Mr. T Stables while trained by Pinchin, and then was acquired by Mohd Saud al Kabeer and trained by Jerry Barton. Mullins took over the colt’s training about three months ago and said they were pointing him to the July 30 Bing Crosby Stakes (gr. I) at Del Mar.
With six wins and two seconds in eight starts, Big City Man earned $1,521,505.
Big City Man
Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club