Kentucky Derby-Placed Dortmund Dies In Korea At Age 10
G1 winner Dortmund, seen winning the Santa Anita Derby in April
Dortmund, a Grade 1 winner and third in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, died on April 18 of a reported small bowel torsion, the Korea-based Great Hill Farm announced on its Instagram page. He was 10.
The son of Big Brown was in the midst of his second year at stud in Korea, after arriving in the country ahead of the 2021 breeding season. He previously stood at Bonita Farm in Maryland, where he entered stud in 2018.
"His death came at everyone’s utter shock and disbelief," a statement read from Great Hill Farm. "His empty stable comes as tremendous pain in my heart. He was one special horse with speed, distance, good temperament, and gorgeous conformation, but most importantly, he was such a lovable horse who held a special place in our hearts."
Bred in Kentucky by Emilie Fojan, Dortmund sold to owner Kaleem Shah for $140,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale, and he made an immediate impact, winning each of his first six starts.
Under the shedrow of trainer Bob Baffert, Dortmund went three-for-three during his juvenile campaign, breaking his maiden by 4 3/4 lengths at Santa Anita Park, crushing a Churchill Downs optional claiming race by 7 3/4 lengths, and besting Firing Line by a head in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity.
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The hulking Dortmund established himself as a top contender on the Triple Crown trail the following spring by sweeping the California preps for the Kentucky: another head victory over Firing Line in the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, a front-running 1 1/4-length score in the G2 San Felipe Stakes, and a dominant 4 1/4-length victory in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.
Dortmund left the gates in the 2015 Kentucky Derby as the betting public's second choice at odds of 4-1, and he finished third behind stablemate and eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and runner-up Firing Line. He returned two weeks later for the Preakness Stakes, where he finished fourth to American Pharoah.
After taking the summer off, Dortmund returned to the races in October of his 3-year-old season and registered a pair of victories against older competition in the Big Bear Stakes at Santa Anita and the G3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar.
The colt took another extended break after his sophomore campaign, and he returned for the summer meet at Del Mar to begin his 4-year-old season. He finished second in the G2 San Diego Handicap in his comeback try, then ran third in the G1 Pacific Classic. He then moved to Santa Anita, where he finished second in the G1 Awesome Again Stakes before running fourth in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He was unplaced in two starts as a 5-year-old before being retired.
Dortmund's oldest foals are 3-year-olds of 2022. His books were limited during his time in Maryland, with just 25 registered foals through his three U.S. crops.
Leading the way among Dortmund's runners so far is Evangeline Allons, who finished third in last year's Selima Stakes at Laurel Park. Of his seven foals to date that have raced, three are winners.
