California Stallion Cherokee Colony Dies

Cherokee Colony, a grade I winner who sired 10 stakes winners, died last week at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Hospital after suffering an internal rupture. The 19-year-old son of Pleasant Colony stood at Ron and Fran Stolich's Blooming Hills near Clements, Calif.

Cherokee Colony's stakes winners include Cherokeeinthehills, who has won or placed in four grade I steeplechase events this year. Cherokee Colony also is represented by 15 stakes-placed runners and the career earners of $8.4 million.

Cherokee Colony was a grade I winner for breeder/owner Thomas Mellon Evans, winning the 1988 Flamingo Stakes (gr. I) in the Buckland Farm silks. Cherokee Colony, who was produced from the Nijinsky II mare Cherokee Phoenix, also won the following year's San Carlos Handicap (gr. II). He retired with three wins and earnings of $474,380.