Is It True dies at 21

Is It True, who beat Easy Goer in the 1988 Breeders Cup Juvenile and went on to sire the successful stallion Yes Its True, died Thursday in his paddock at Walmac Farm near Lexington, Ky. The 21-year-old horse apparently had a heart attack, according to farm officials.

Warner Jones Jr. bred Is It True and sold him as a yearling for $550,000 to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Klein at the 1987 Keeneland summer sale. The colt received his name when Jones told the Kleins trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, that he was by Raja Baba. Lukas asked, Is it true?

Is It True developed into a leading juvenile the following season with a second-place finish in the Champagne and a fourth in the Cowdin. He capped that season with his Breeders Cup victory. In 1989, Is It True won the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and Grade 3 Riva Ridge. From a lifetime record of 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 15 starts, Is It True earned $819,999.

After his retirement, Is It True stood in Australia and Florida as well as at Walmac in Lexington. He sired Grade 1-winning millionaire Yes Its True from his second American crop and other stakes winners, such as Trueamericanspirit and No Its Not, as well as graded winners in the Southern Hemisphere.

Walmac co-owner John T. L. Jones III said Thursday that Is It True would likely be cremated and have a grave marker at the farm alongside Miswaki, Risen Star, Alleged, and Nureyev.