New York Stallion Claramount Dead

New York stallion Claramount, a three-time champion in the Empire State, died Feb. 17 of a ruptured aorta at James F. Edwards' The Stallion Park in Millbrook, N.Y. Owned by Edwin Wachtel, the 19-year-old stallion (Policeman -- Fifties Galore, by Cornish Prince) sired nine stakes winners.

Wachtel bought Claramount in the summer of 1988 and watched him develop into that year's New York Horse of the Year and champion sprinter and older male. Trained by Howard Tesher, Claramount won two graded stakes that year -- the Boojum Handicap (gr. II) and Philadelphia Park Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) in track-record-equaling time for six furlongs -- and two other added-money races -- the West Point Handicap by 20 lengths at Saratoga and the Evan Shipman Stakes in his first start for Wachtel.

Claramount, who was bred in New York by Kinderhill Farm Breeding Racing Program--1979 Series, entered stud in 1990 with a record of 14 wins from 41 starts and earnings of $482,057. He had initially raced in Mexico, where he was a group I winner.

Claramount's added-money winners include Stalwart Member, a three-time graded stakes winner at Aqueduct who earned $758,697.