Meadowlake euthanized

Meadowlake, the sire of 1990's 2-year-old filly champion, Meadow Star, and 51 other stakes winners, was euthanized Saturday morning at Darby Dan Farm in Lexington, Ky., after suffering a severe case of colic, according to officials at Darby Dan. Meadowlake was 22.

Ryan Norton, bloodstock associate at Darby Dan, said that Meadowlake began showing intense signs of distress on Saturday at 5:30 a.m. Darby Dan officials made the decision to euthanize the stallion one hour later after discovering that he had ruptured his intestines.

A winner of all three of his lifetime starts, including the Grade 1 Arlington-Washington Futurity in 1985 by 8 3/4 lengths, Meadowlake was known for siring precocious horses. At the time of his death, 47 percent of his starters at 2 won at that age.

By Hold Your Peace out of Suspicious Native, by Raise a Native, Meadowlake's progeny earned more than $40 million. Seventeen percent of his sons and daughters who started have either won or placed in a stakes race.

Meadow Star was Meadowlake's best horse. In addition to winning the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old filly after taking the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 1990, Meadow Star won the Mother Goose Stakes and the Acorn Stakes as a 3-year-old. Her career earnings were $1,445,740.

Meadowlake initially stood at Warnerton Farm in Florida upon his retirement in 1987. He was moved to Darby Dan in 1990.

Last year, Meadowlake covered 45 mares at a fee of $20,000, according to Norton.