Rowdy Angel dead at age 25

Rowdy Angel, dam of Pine Bluff and Demons Begone and the second dam of Fusaichi Pegasus, died March 22 of natural causes. The mare was 25 and had been pensioned since 1995. She died at Dr. and Mrs. Gary Lavin's Longfield Farm in Goshen, Ky.

A daughter of Halo who never won a race and earned $16,395 in her racing career, Rowdy Angel became an outstanding broodmare almost immediately. Her first foal, the Elocutionist colt Demons Begone, achieved Grade 1 status when he won the 1987 Arkansas Derby. He was sent off the favorite in the 1987 Kentucky Derby but was pulled up after bleeding.

Five years later, Rowdy Angel produced a classic winner in the Danzig colt Pine Bluff, who won the 1992 Preakness and was third in the Belmont Stakes.

Rowdy Angel's influence also showed in her daughter Angel Fever, who died earlier this year. Angel Fever produced the 2000 Kentucky Derby, winner Fusaichi Pegasus.