Irgun Dies at Age 15

Irgun, winner of the 1994 Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), died May 23 from a stomach rupture. The 15-year-old son of Sunny's Halo was standing at Three Way Horse Farm near Nashville, Ill., for a fee of $1,250.

"He was a nice horse," farm manager John Kottkamp said. "It is just a horrible way for a horse to go. When that happens it is pretty tough."

Irgun defeated eventual Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Go for Gin in the Wood Memorial and also won the Gotham Stakes (gr. II) earlier that year. He did not compete in the Kentucky Derby because of a bruised foot, which later became abscessed, and a fever.

Out of the unraced Secretariat mare Late From Lunch, Irgun retired with three wins from five starts and earnings of $476,975. He entered stud in 1997 at Walmac International near Lexington and relocated to Three Way Farm at the end of 2003.

Irgun is the sire of five stakes winners: Irguns Angel, Brief Embrace, Gal on the Go, Ruffena, and Bravura. Irguns Angel was his best runner, capturing the 2002 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park.