Pirate's Bounty euthanized

Pirate's Bounty, a popular and successful California sire, was euthanized on Aug. 21 at River Edge Farm in Buellton, Calif., because of the infirmities of old age. A Hoist the Flag stallion, Pirate's Bounty was 31 and had been pensioned since 2000.

Pirate's Bounty led California's general stallion ranks in 1992, 1994, and 1995. He was also the Golden State's leading juvenile sire in 1992 and 1994.

"He'd gotten to where he didn't maintain," said River Edge's manager, Russell Drake.

Bred and raced by Marty Wygod, Pirate's Bounty won the 1979 Millburn Stakes at the Meadowlands. A winner on both turf and dirt, he retired with a race record of 4-3-4 from 15 starts and $95,984 in earnings.

From 19 crops to race, Pirate's Bounty sired such stakes winners as Grade 1 winners Pirate's Revenge and Private Persuasion and Grade 2 winners Feverish and Hajji's Treasure. At his death he had at least 57 stakes winners and $31,930,079 in progeny earnings.