Juddmonte stallion dies in Argentina

In the week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, Argentina based Haras Vacacion announced its 2000 Kentucky Derby runner-up Aptitude had died due to a ruptured stomach.  He was 15.

Aptitude (A.P. Indy – Dokki by Northern Dancer) was trained by Bobby Frankel for Juddmonte Farms.  He was runner-up to Fusaichi Pegasus in the Kentucky Derby and completed the Triple Crown with a second behind Commendable in the Belmont Stakes.

In addition to his classic placings, Aptitude captured the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes and G1 Hollywood Gold Cup.

Aptitude began his stud career at Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms in Lexington and first shuttled to Argentina in 2007.  His early crops included G1 Lane’s End Futurity winner Great Hunter and the stakes winners Outperformance, Manteca, Champagne Attitude, Gallant and Steppenwolfer who was third in the 2006 Kentucky Derby behind Barbaro and Bluegrass Cat.

Aptitude sired several top-class horses in South America including Lange, winner of the 2011 Argentine Derby, and Peruvian champion Al Qasr.

From eight crops of racing age, Aptitude has sired 283 winners including 19 stakes winners that have earned over $18.45 million.