RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 21, 2014—Multiple Grade 1 winner Wicked Courage was euthanized early this morning (Monday) following complications from a burst appendix according to his trainer Luis Villafranco.

Owned and raced by Andrew T. Smith, the son of third crop sire Captain Courage was at Ruidosos Downs preparing for the upcoming $200,000 All American Gold Cup trials next month.

According to his caretakers he began to show signs of colic early this morning and was taken to Dr. Warren Franklin's clinic in Ruidoso. The horse was prepared for surgery but doctors found his appendix had burst and he was suffering from a twisted intestine after opening. They determined that he could not be saved.

Wicked Courage posted a nine-race win streak from the fall of his 2-year-old season through last July. During that period he won four stakes races including the Rainbow QH Derby(G1), Ruidoso Derby(G1), Bob Moore Memorial Stakes(G2) and the Black Gold Futurity Championship(RG3). He earned $1,132,848.