KAPLAN, LA—OCTOBER 18, 2021—AQHA Racing Champion Aged Stallion Moonin The Eagle SI 111 died Friday (Oct. 15) according to Jerome Bellard, Manager of Cox Stallion Station in Kaplan, Louisiana.

Bellard took the 9-year-old son of world champion sire One Famous Eagle, out of the champion First Down Dash mare Your First Moon, to Louisiana State University after it was noticed that the horse was experiencing some difficulties. He was euthanized due to complications. The ranch is awaiting results of the necropsy to determine the cause of death.

“All of us are deeply saddened by this loss,” Bill Melson, the long-time general manager for Bobby D. Cox, told TRACK Magazine's Monday Report. “Flash Bak and the other stakes horses by Moonin The Eagle made us believe that he had a very bright future. He will be missed."

Trained by Rolando Almanza, Moonin The Eagle won or placed 10 of 14 career starts nd earned $548,985. He won the Remington Park Invitational Championship(G1), Sam Abbey Memorial Invitational, Hialeah Maturity, and South Florida Derby. He was second in the Refrigerator Handicap(G1) and Hialeah Derby and was a finalist in the Rainbow Derby(G1).

Moonin The Eagle set a 440 yard track record at Remington Park of :20.808 seconds and 440 yard track record at Hialeah Park in :21.192 seconds.

Moonin The Eagle sold as a yearling for $45,000 in the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale in 2013.

Seized by the federal government in 2016, while still in race training, Moonin The Eagle stood in Texas in 2017 and 2018 under the direction of Chris Benedict before being sold to Cox at 2018 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale for an all-time racing Quarter Horse stallion at auction record price of $2,100,000.

After the purchase, Cox relocated Moonin The Eagle to Louisiana where he stood full books in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Moonin The Eagle is currently the #3 Second-Crop Leading Sire of Money Earners. From limited starters in three crops to race he has sired 33 winners, 9 stakes horses, earners of $1.4 million with average earnings per starter of over $16,400.

His top money earner, Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby winner Flash Bak SI 98 ($566,282) set the fastest qualifying time for the $925,650 Los Alamitos Super Derby(G1) on Saturday. He was also a finalist in the 2020 All American Futurity.

Moonin The Eagle's other top performers include multiple stakes winner Wrs Moonin Thewagon SI 93 (6 wins to 3, $173,628, Governor's S., etc.), stakes-placed Cali Chrome SI 98 (2 wins at 2, $84,087, 2nd Sam Houston Juvenile), stakes-placed Bp Ck Eagle SI 92 (winner at 2, $56,049, 2nd Heritage Place Juvenile, etc.), etc.

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, Moonin The Eagle's dam is Your First Moon SI 96 won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity(G1) and retired with 7 wins and $750,726 in earnings. An AQHA Dam of Distinction, Your First Moon produced 12 ROM, 10 winners, 6 black type including four-time AQHA Racing champion Moonist SI 101 ($878,468), champion Moonin The Eagle SI 111 (see above), stakes winner and multiple stakes sire Jess My Moon SI 99 ($78,450), Grade 3 winner and multiple stakes sire Stray Cat SI 93 ($58,638), All American Futurity(G1) runner-up The Marfa Lights SI 92 ($566,493), and stakes-placed Im Leonidas SI 93.