A. P Jet, top New York sire, dead at 21

New York's former leading sire A. P Jet, who recovered from life-threatening injuries after a fight with another stallion that died, was euthanized June 9 due to age-related infirmities, Sugar Maple Farm confirmed Thursday.

Sugar Maple pensioned the 21-year-old Fappiano horse in 2007. He still resided on the Poughquag farm, occasionally serving as a teaser.

A. P Jet, a son of Taminette and full brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tappiano, raced in Japan before retiring to stud in the United States. His best runners include seven-time stakes winners Travelator and Jini's Jet, graded-placed Galloping Grocer and Jet Prospector, and two-time New York stakes winner Karakorum Splendor. His progeny earnings total more than $18.7 million to date.

A. P Jet, then New York's second-ranked stallion, nearly lost his life in May 2006 in a fight with another Sugar Maple stallion, Gold Token. A. P Jet reared and escaped from his groom, then galloped to Gold Token's paddock, where the two stallions fought each other at the fence. Gold Token broke through his fence, and the two horses galloped down the fenceline. Gold Token died instantly when he hit a tree.

Gold Token, 13, was the state's fifth-ranked sire at the time. A. P Jet, then 17, sustained serious injuries and never returned to the breeding shed.