Afleet Alex, the popular dual classic winner and champion who was linked to pediatric cancer research during his racing career, was euthanized Feb. 6 due to the infirmities of old age. Gainesway Farm, where he stood throughout his stud career, and Cash Is King LLC, which raced the champion, made the announcement Thursday regarding the 24-year-old stallion. Afleet Alex, by Northern Afleet, was bred in Florida by the late John Silvertand. The colt’s mother became ill after his birth, and Silvertand, who fought cancer, and his young daughter Lauren bottle-fed him. The horse was purchased as a juvenile by Cash Is King LLC and trainer Tim Ritchey. Cash Is King principal Chuck Zacney dubbed the colt Afleet Alex, after his sire, and because several children of members of the ownership syndicate were named Alex or Alexandra. The Cash Is King group later learned of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, to which they pledged a percentage of the colt’s winnings to raise money for pediatric cancer research and for which they encouraged various racetracks to host fundraising events. Alex’s Lemonade Stand was named for Alex Scott, who conceived the idea to raise funds prior to her own death from cancer in 2004 at age 8. Positioned as a feel-good story, Afleet Alex delivered on the racetrack. Winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes and Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at 2, he finished second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. A victory in the Arkansas Derby, then a Grade 2, cemented his place as one of the 2005 Kentucky Derby favorites. He finished third, beaten just a length total, as longshot Giacomo rallied to the victory. In the Preakness Stakes two weeks later, a dramatic scene unfolded. Afleet Alex was rallying on the outside of Scrappy T when that foe ducked out in response to a left-handed whip. Afleet Alex clipped heels and stumbled badly, but picked himself up under jockey Jeremy Rose and drove on to a 4 3/4-length win. “Afleet Alex’s Preakness Stakes remains one of the most incredible displays of athleticism and heart I have ever seen,” Gainesway owner Antony Beck said in a release. “He passed that same determination and talent down to his offspring.” A dominant seven-length victory in the Belmont Stakes three weeks later followed. That was his final career start. He sustained a hairline fracture that summer, and although Afleet Alex returned to training, avascular necrosis in the bone was later discovered, leading to his retirement. Afleet Alex was voted the Eclipse Award champion 3-year-old male for the season and took up stud duties at Gainesway. Afleet Alex, who was pensioned in January 2022, is the sire of 51 stakes winners. Highlights of his career include siring Travers Stakes winner Afleet Express, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red, Breeders’ Cup Marathon winner Afleet Again, Canadian champion Skywire, and Grade 1 winners Dublin, Iotapa, Materiality, and Sharla Rae. He is the broodmare sire of Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston. “Afleet Alex was truly a horse of a lifetime,” Zacney said. “From his first race at Delaware Park to his triumph in the Belmont Stakes, he defined class and pure athleticism. Off the track, his affiliation with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was transformative; [Alex’s mother] Liz Scott credits much of their success to him. It was a special era, and we’ll forever cherish the ride and the memories. He will be deeply missed.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.