California stud McCann’s Mojave euthanized due to colic

ARCADIA, Calif. – The California stallion McCann’s Mojave, who won the 2007 Sunshine Millions Classic and seven other stakes, was euthanized Friday due to colic, according to owner Mike Willman.

Willman, the publicity director at Santa Anita, was the co-breeder and owner of McCann’s Mojave during a racing career that included 12 wins in 35 starts and earnings of $1,513,565. Willman bred McCann’s Mojave with Nikki Hunt.

A 13-year-old by Memo, McCann’s Mojave raced from 2002 to 2008. While he won stakes throughout California, his biggest win came in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic for California-breds and Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park in 2007.

Sent off at 33-1, McCann’s Mojave raced near the front throughout and held off Summer Book to win by three-quarters of a length.

Following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup in 2008, McCann’s Mojave was retired after tests revealed damage to a tendon. McCann’s Mojave entered stud in 2009 at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, Calif.

McCann’s Mojave was out of the Nordic Prince mare Joni U. Bar, who won 16 of 37 starts while racing in California in the 1980s.

McCann’s Mojave’s oldest foals are 3-year-olds this year. He is the sire of 13 winners to date. In Friday’s ninth race at Santa Anita, the McCann’s Mojave filly Charlie Time won a $30,000 claiming race for maiden sprinters.

Earlier this year, McCann’s Mojave stood for $3,000 at Rancho San Miguel. Through Friday, he had 2013 progeny earnings of $171,561.