Laoban (Uncle Mo–Chattertown, by Speightstown), a leading second-crop sire, passed away unexpectedly, officials at WinStar Farm said Monday. He was eight years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that we lost Laoban this morning,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar's president, CEO, and racing manager. “He had quickly become one of our favorite stallions, and it's sad that we will not have the opportunity to see how influential he could have been as a sire. His passing will leave a tremendous void for all of us, and he will be greatly missed.”
Bred by Respite Farm, the $40,000 Keeneland November weanling turned $260,000 Keeneland September yearling placed as a maiden in the GIII Sham S. and GIII Gotham S. before graduating in style in the 2016 GII Jim Dandy S.
Laoban entered stud in New York at Sequel Stallions, but was relocated to WinStar based largely on the performance of his first crop to the races in 2020. To date, Laoban has been represented by 25 individual winners, five at the stakes level, including GI Darley Alcibiades S. heroine Simply Ravishing and Keepmeinmind, who broke his maiden in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. and was most recently a sound fourth in the GI Preakness S. His other black-type winners include Laobanonaprayer, recent Sir Barton S. winner The King Cheek–entered for Friday's GII Penn Mile S.–and Devious Mo.
Walden said that there would be no further comment from the farm.
Earlier this year, Katie Ritz visited Laoban at WinStar for the TDN and produced the video below.
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