Kentucky Stallion Wild Wonder Dead

Young stallion Wild Wonder, who was gearing up for his first season at Doug Arnold's Buck Pond Farm near Versailles, Ky., died Jan. 25 of an apparent rupture of the aorta at the farm. The 12-year-old son of Wild Again had sired two graded stakes winners and was on his way to a full book for the 2006 breeding season.

Wild Wonder's two leading runners, Wild Fit and Fusaichi Rock Star, are full siblings. As a 2-year-old in 2005, Wild Fit won the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (gr. I) and was second in the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. II). She was sold for $3 million at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale. Wild Fit was assigned the third-highest weight, 120 pounds, on the Experimental Free Handicap for fillies in 2005.

Fusaichi Rock Star, an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old, scored his big win in last year's San Vicente Stakes (gr. II).

Produced from the Pass the Tab mare Carol's Wonder, Wild Wonder raced as a homebred for the late Verne H. Winchell in the name of VHW Stables. Wild Wonder won or placed in 18 of 20 races and earned $639,036. His seven added-money wins included scores in three graded stakes, including the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap (gr. II) and the Longacres Mile Handicap (gr. III) in track-record time of 1:33.20.

Wild Wonder, who previously stood at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, is represented by the earners of $2.5 million. He was owned by a partnership.