Moonin The Eagle Dies

The 9-year-old champion Moonin The Eagle died Friday, October 15, 2021, according to Jerome Bellard, the manager of Cox Stallion Station in Kaplan, Louisiana.

Bellard took the stallion, who is a 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). He set a 440 yard track record at Remington Park of :20.808 and 440 yard track record at Hialeah Park in :21.192.

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 $2.1 million.

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 No. 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 ($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 ($173,628), stakes-placed Cali Chrome ($84,087), stakes-placed BP CK Eagle (56,049).

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, Moonin The Eagle's champion dam Your First Moon won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1) and retired with seven 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 ($878,468), stakes winner and multiple stakes sire Jess My Moon ($78,450), Grade 3 winner and multiple stakes sire Stray Cat ($58,638), All American Futurity (G1) runner-up The Marfa Lights ($566,493), and stakes-placed Im Leonidas.

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