# Fusaichi Pegasus

Fusaichi Pegasus (Japanese: フサイチペガサス, Japanese pronunciation:; April 12, 1997 – May 23, 2023) was a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and subsequently set a record at auction—selling for US$70 million to Coolmore Stud.

## Background

The colt was purchased as a yearling by Fusao Sekiguchi for $4 million, which was the highest price paid for a Kentucky Derby winner at the time. His name is a combination of his owner's name, "Fusao", and the Japanese word for one, "ichi", to mean No. 1 or the best; the second half of his name came from that of a winged horse in Greek mythology.
Nicknamed "Fu Peg", he was a son of Mr. Prospector and Angel Fever, a mare by leading sire Danzig.

## Racing career

In early 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes and Wood Memorial Stakes.
Fusaichi Pegasus won the 2000 Kentucky Derby in a time of 2:01.12 for the 11⁄4 mile distance. At the time, it was the seventh fastest time in Kentucky Derby history; by the time of his death, it was the tenth fastest time. He was the first favorite to win the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1979 and the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby without winning a race as a two-year-old since Proud Clarion in 1967. He then lost to Red Bullet in the Preakness Stakes. After his loss in the Preakness Stakes, he did not race in the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes.

## Retirement and stud record

In 2000, he was sold to Irish breeder Coolmore Stud for a reported price of more than US$70 million (£35m). The previous record for a stallion prospect was US$40m (£24m), paid in 1983 for Shareef Dancer. During his first decade as a stallion, he split his time between Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Ireland and Coolmore's Australian breeding operation. He shuttled in 2008 to Haras Don Alberto in Chile, and also shuttled in Uruguay. Among his progeny are Grade 1 winners Bandini, Roman Ruler, Champ Pegasus, and Haradasun.
His son Roman Ruler produced Ruler on Ice, winner of the 2011 Belmont Stakes. He was pensioned from stud duty after the 2020 breeding season.
At age 26, Fusaichi Pegasus was euthanized on May 23, 2023, due to the effects of old age.

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Fusaichi Pegasus (USA), bay stallion, 1997 :
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Raise a Native (USA) 1961 | Native Dancer | Polynesian |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Raise a Native (USA) 1961 | Native Dancer | Geisha |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Raise a Native (USA) 1961 | Raise You | Case Ace |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Raise a Native (USA) 1961 | Raise You | Lady Glory |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Gold Digger(USA) 1962 | Nashua | Nasrullah |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Gold Digger(USA) 1962 | Nashua | Segula |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Gold Digger(USA) 1962 | Sequence | Count Fleet |
| Sire Mr Prospector (USA) 1970 | Gold Digger(USA) 1962 | Sequence | Miss Dogwood |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Northern Dancer | Nearctic |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Northern Dancer | Natalma |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Pas de Nom | Admiral's Voyage |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Danzig (USA) 1977 | Pas de Nom | Petitioner |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Rowdy Angel (USA) 1979 | Halo | Hail to Reason |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Rowdy Angel (USA) 1979 | Halo | Cosmah |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Rowdy Angel (USA) 1979 | Ramhyde | Rambunctious |
| Dam Angel Fever (USA) 1990 | Rowdy Angel (USA) 1979 | Ramhyde | Castle Hyde (Family: 8-c) |