Grade 1 winner Magnum Moon succumbs to laminitis

Magnum Moon, winner of the 2018 Arkansas Derby, was euthanized on Friday after battling laminitis for more than a year.

Magnum Moon, a 4-year-old colt by Malibu Moon, had been under the care of the Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists Hospital in Elmont, N.Y., adjacent to Belmont Park, since suffering a career-ending fracture during a morning work in June 2018 at Belmont. He underwent surgery for those fractures, but later developed laminitis as a complication during his recovery.

“We want to thank Dr. [John] Piggot, Dr. [Alan] Nixon, and the excellent staff at the Cornell Ruffian Clinic for their superb care for Magnum Moon,” owners Robert and Lawana Low said in a press release. “He was a special colt who was obviously talented on the racetrack, but also very smart and courageous during his treatment. Magnum Moon was all class until the very end. We cherished him dearly and thank him for all the joy, great times and for the inspiration he brought to our lives.”

Magnum Moon, who was bred in Kentucky by Ramona Bass, was purchased as a yearling by the Lows, and was trained by Todd Pletcher. The colt was unraced as a 2-year-old, but emerged as a 3-year-old to win his first four career starts. Magnum Moon took his debut by 4 1/2 lengths that January at Gulfstream Park, then won an allowance-optional claiming race at Tampa Bay by two lengths.

Stepping up into graded stakes company, Magnum Moon won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park by 3 1/2 lengths, then continued on for a front-running four-length Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, punching his ticket to the Kentucky Derby. He finished 19th behind eventual Triple Crown winner Justify on a sloppy track in what proved to be his final start.