Maryland Stallion Cuba Dies Due to Colic

Cuba, the sire of Maryland champion older horse Laki, was euthanized Feb. 6 following complications associated with colic, according to Kelly Deiter, who stood the stallion at her Royal Wux Farm near Chestertown, Md.

The 19-year-old son of Maryland stalwart Not For Love was bred in New Jersey by Shaunlee and later sold as a yearling for $65,000 by Kingswood Farm as agent to Cam Allard at the 2002 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Allard raced the colt after he bought him back on a final bid of $70,000 at the Barretts March Selected 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

With trainer Tom Bush, Cuba won five times, was second by a neck in the Eclipse Handicap (G3), and third in the Seagram Cup Stakes (G3) and Excelsior Breeders' Cup Handicap (G3).

Leo-Sag Stable claimed Cuba from Allard in February 2008 and he won six of his next 10 starts, which included a victory in the Charles Hesse III Handicap at Monmouth Park and a four-length victory in the Maryland Million Classic Stakes for Leo-Sag Stable with partners William Corrigan and Daniel Levesque.

Cuba changed ownership a couple more times and finished a game second in the 2009 Maryland Million Classic and third in the Charles Hesse before being retired in 2010 with a 14-6-14 record from 59 starts and earnings of $792,694.

Jose and Sonia Antao bought Cuba as a stallion prospect and stood him at Royal Wux Farm starting in 2012. The stallion stood every year for $1,500.

"He was a very nice stallion, easy to handle," Deiter said. "What's unfortunate is that the best foals he'll ever have will probably be coming this year."

Cuba bred 20 mares in 2019, by far his largest book, which has averaged around seven mares a year since he entered stud. Driving the interest in Cuba was his gelded son Laki, who was Maryland's 2018 champion older horse and finished this year's Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championships series with his second consecutive title as points leader in the 3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt Division. Laki is a four-time stakes winner who has earned $468,632 to date.

From 25 foals of racing age, Cuba has sired 14 starters and five winners. His runners, excluding Laki, have won or placed in 25 races and averaged $17,875 per starter.

"He's done all right considering he had such small crops," Deiter said. "You know, it takes so long to get these stallions going and now he was getting some attention. It's a real loss."