Cormorant, sire of 1994 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Go for Gin, died May 4 of old age. The 33-year-old son of His Majesty had resided as a pensioner at Dr. Jerry Bilinski's Waldorf Farm near North Chatham, N.Y.
Cormorant, a grade I winner at 3 and sire of 47 stakes winners, was moved for the 1980 breeding season to New York after standing his first two years in Virginia.
"If he's not the top stallion historically to stand in New York, he's certainly among the top," Bilinski said. "He sired Go for Gin when he was standing in New York."
Cormorant also sired Eclipse Award winner Saratoga Dew and millionaires Grecian Flight and Gander. Go for Gin, who was second in the Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes, also retired a millionaire.
Cormorant was bred in Kentucky by Dr. Ben Roach and raced for C.T. Berry Jr. Trained by James P. Simpson, he won the Jersey Derby (gr. I) and four other stakes. He faced Seattle Slew in the 1977 Preakness, but ran unplaced. He retired with eight wins from a dozen races and earnings of $243,174 and entered stud in 1978 at Virginia Stallion Station near Middleburg.
As a broodmare sire, Cormorant is represented by at least 38 stakes winners, including 2005 TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Silver Train.
Cormorant, who was produced from the Tudor Minstrel mare Song Sparrow, is buried at Waldorf next to 1990 Belmont Stakes winner and Irish champion Go and Go.