Dortmund Dies Due to Colic at Age 10

Multiple grade 1 winner and second-crop sire Dortmund  died April 18 due to colic caused by a twisted colon, according to Great Hill Farm in South Korea, where the stallion was exported in 2021.

"His death came at everyone's utter shock and disbelief. His empty stable comes a tremendous pain in my heart," read an April 28 Instagram post from the farm. Great Hill Farm apparently took pride in standing the 10-year-old son of Big Brown   by recognizing his Feb. 7 birthday on social media and thanking fans for sending birthday packages and cards.

"My heart is touched by the heartfelt cards," the farm wrote earlier this year.

Emilie Gerlinde Fojan bred Dortmund in Kentucky and offered him as a weanling at the 2012 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where he was bought back for $85,000. Bona Terra Stud offered him again at Fasig-Tipton's 2013 edition of The July Sale and this time sold him for $90,000 to Breaking Point Farm.

Owner/breeder Kalem Shah bought Dortmund for $140,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale through agent Donato Lanni and found early success with the colt. Trained initially by Bob Baffert, he was undefeated at 2 and captured his first grade 1 in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1). At 3, he won five of seven starts with his victories including the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe Stakes (G2), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), and Native Diver Stakes (G3). He also finished third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1). Art Sherman trained him for his last two starts, and he was retired in 2017 with an 8-2-2 record from 16 starts and earnings of $1,987,505.

Dortmund entered stud in 2018 at Bonita Farm in Maryland where he stood for an initial fee of $7,500. The state had seven other new stallions that year and the competition for mares in both Maryland and Pennsylvania was fierce, according to farm owner Bill Boniface. The stallion attracted 25 mares his first year and then the numbers fell off despite a vigorous advertising campaign, according to Shah, who said he contacted multiple farms in the United States before accepting an offer from overseas.

"It is sad that the American market rejected him, and I hope he can prove himself there. If not, I will get him back," Shah told BloodHorse after he had been sold to Great Hill Farm.

Dortmund had sired three winners from seven starters so far, which included a stakes-placed daughter named Evangeline Allons , who was third in the 2021 Selima Stakes at Laurel Park.

"He was one special horse with speed, distance, good temperament, and gorgeous conformation, but more importantly he was such a lovely horse who held a special place in our hearts," Great Hill Farm posted. "The thought of now never being able to (see) Dortmund jump around in pure joy in the distance as we walked to him with a bag of cookies makes our heart ache."