Seven-year-old syndicated stallion Ocean Runaway, a three-time Quarter racing champion and a leading freshman sire, was found dead in his stall at the Four Sixes Ranch, Guthrie, TX, on Friday morning. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
The winner of 17 out of 19 starts, including four G1 stakes, and the earner of $1,642,498, Ocean Runaway was bred by Lucas Racing, Inc. and campaigned by Gary and Cindy Muller of Muller Racing, Inc. He was the leading money-earner sired by all-time leader First Down Dash, and from his first crop of 71 performers has sired six stakes horses, including Runaway Thyme, runner-up in the G1 Kindergarten Futurity.
Half Pipe, a full brother to Ocean Runaway, was the high seller, for $325,000, at the recent 2009 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. Oceans Apart, another full brother, was the 2009 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale high seller at $300,000. Their dam, broodmare of the year Runaway Wave, by Runaway Winner, has also produced full siblings Wave Carver, a world champion and earner of $1,005,946); G1 winner Trisk with $200,864; and G1 stakes-placed Sir Runaway Dash with $117,961.