The Big Beast euthanized at 15
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SARATOGA SPRING, N.Y. – Owner Alex Lieblong has announced that The Big Beast, winner of the Grade 1 King’s Bishop at Saratoga in 2014 and sire of recent Grade 1 winner Reef Runner, was euthanized at the age of 15 on Tuesday.
“He had several foals at the beginning of the year before we decided to retire him a few months ago,” Lieblong explained. “We’d been having some health issues with him lately, weren’t making any progress, and he started suffering, especially with the temperature here up over 100 recently.”
The Big Beast, who ran for Lieblong and his wife, JoAnn, during a highly successful but injury-plagued nine-race career, was trained for all but his first start by Anthony Dutrow. The King’s Bishop was the third victory in a four-race winning streak for the son of Yes It’s True. The Big Beast also finished second in the Grade 1 Alfred G Vanderbilt and Forego Stakes before being retired at the age of 4 the following season.
“He sired several good horses, although none that really popped through until Reef Runner,” said Lieblong. “He gave us a good going-away present with him.”
Reef Runner, who has banked nearly $2.2 million for the Lieblongs, won the Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga last month but suffered a soft tissue injury, according to trainer David Fawkes, while preparing for the Grade 2 Troy Stakes on Aug. 9 that will keep him sidelined the remainder of the year.