Maria's Mon euthanized at 14

Maria's Mon, the former juvenile champion who sired 2001 Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos and 2006 champion 3-year-old filly Wait a While, has died at age 14.

Veterinarians euthanized Maria's Mon on Friday morning at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Ky. Pin Oak Stud manager Clifford Barry confirmed plans for a necropsy in order to determine the cause of the young stallion's sudden decline, which led to severe laminitis and prompted the decision to euthanize him.

A son of Wavering Monarch, Maria's Mon had first showed slight signs of illness about 10 days ago but deteriorated rapidly despite aggressive treatment.

A release from Live Oak said the laminitis was likely cause by a syndrome associated with Cushing's disease.

Cushing's causes "an overproliferation of cells in the pituitary gland that cause increased secretion of a hormone, which acts on the adrenal gland and releases excess cortisol," said a Hagyard veterinarian, Dr. Nathan Slovis. Excess cortisol can cause an array of symptoms, including laminitis.

Maria's Mon was a son of the Caro mare Carlotta Maria. Bred by Morton Rosenthal and campaigned by his wife in partnership with Pin Oak Stud, he won the 1995 Champagne, Futurity, and Sanford stakes and finished third in the Hopeful en route to his juvenile championship.

Richard Schosberg trained Maria's Mon, who retired at age 3 with a lifetime record of 4 wins from 7 starts and earnings of $507,140.

In addition to Monarchos and Wait a While, Maria's Mon also sired graded winners High Limit, Strong Contender, See How She Runs, and Gaff, among other stakes-winners.

Maria's Mon will be buried at Pin Oak in Versailles, Ky., where he was the farm's flagship stallion.