Stakes Winner McCann's Mojave Euthanized

McCann’s Mojave, a multiple graded stakes winner of more than $1.5 million, was euthanized due to colic at 11:45 a.m in Apple Valley, Calif., Friday morning, said Santa Anita Publicity Director Mike Willman, owner of the California-bred son of Memo, who stood at Rancho San Miguel in San Miguel, CA. Willman also bred McCann’s Mojave, along with Nikki Hunt.

An eight-time stakes winner, McCann’s Mojave’s signature victory came in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in 2007. Steve Specht was the trainer.

A bay horse by the Chilean-bred stakes winner Memo-out of the multiple stakes winning Nordic Prince mare Joni U. Bar, McCann’s Mojave earned $1,513,565 with 12 wins from 35 lifetime races, an average of $43,245 per start. He from six furlongs to a mile and an eighth.

Coincidentally, McCann Mojave’s most recent winner came 5 ½ hours after his death, in yesterday’s ninth race at Santa Anita when Charlie Time, a 2-year-old filly owned and bred by Howard and Janet Siegel, trained by Eddie Truman and ridden by Martin Pedroza, won a $30,000 maiden claiming event by 3 ½ lengths at 5-1, leading throughout the 5 ½ furlong dash.

“He’s produced sound horses with good bone,” Truman said of McCann’s Mojave. “The Siegels bred to him perhaps more than any other breeders. They’ve been in this business for more than 30 years and are big supporters of California racing.”

Another progeny of McCann’s Mojave, Eddie’s Turn, also owned in part by the Siegels and trained by Truman, is entered in today’s 10th race at Santa Anita.

“It would be nice if the horse could win for Mike,” Truman said.