Arkansas Derby winner and sire Danza dies at 10

Nicole Russo|Jul 19, 2021

Aron Wellman (left) with Danza after winning the 2014 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn

Tom Keyser Aron Wellman (left) of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners leads Danza into the winner’s circle after the 2013 Arkansas Derby.

Classic-placed Grade 1 winner Danza has died of an apparent heart attack at Fair Winds Farm in Waynesville, Ohio. The death of the 10-year-old son of Street Boss was confirmed by Brandywine Farm, which co-bred the horse with Liberation Farm, and by a representative of Spendthrift Farm.

Spendthrift stood Danza in Kentucky for his first four seasons at stud before sending him to Fair Winds on a lease beginning with the 2020 season.

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Danza put together a consistent race record of 5-2-0-3. Grade 2-placed as a juvenile, he broke through the following April with a 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. He subsequently finished third behind California Chrome in the 2014 Kentucky Derby.

Danza, whose oldest foals are 4, is the sire of 48 winners from 95 starters. He is the sire of Cruise and Danze, winner of the 2020 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct; Panamanian Group 2 winner Baila; and four other stakes-placed runners.

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