Report: Breeders' Cup winner Bill Kaplan dies at 77
Florida-based trainer Bill Kaplan, who won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in 2011 with Musical Romance, died Friday at age 77.
His sister Susan Welton told BloodHorse that he died at Coral Springs Medical Center from cancer.
In addition to Musical Romance, who also won the Inside Information (G2), Kaplan’s graded-stakes winners include Indiana Derby (G2) winner East Hall, Davona Dale (G2) and Old Hat (G3) winner Ekati’s Phaeton, Palm Beach Stakes (G3) winner Mr. Livingston, and Spectacular Bid Stakes (G3) winner Seacliff, who also swept the 1995 Florida Stallion Stakes.
Other stakes winners included Ravensmoor, Fortune Pending and Castlebrook, a track-record holder at Calder. In 2007, Kaplan saddled Imawildandcrazyguy to a fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
As his stable grew, Kaplan also became known for his keen eye at yearling and 2-year-old sales. Musical Romance, who earned $1.6 million and later sold at auction for $1.6 million, was purchased for $22,000. Mr. Livingston, a winner of $400,000, went for $42,000, and East Hall, who earned $870,000, was bought for $55,000.
At the family's request, donations in Kaplan's memory may be made in his name to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.