Freshman Sire Early Voting Dies at Age 7 Due to Colic

Early Voting, one of two freshman sires represented by a grade 1 winner so far this year, died at the young age of 7 due to colic, his majority owner announced Oct. 20. "After an acute onset of irreversible colic, Early Voting was humanely euthanized," said Dr. Padraig "Paddy" O'Casaigh, a veterinary reproductive researcher, who bought a 90% interest in the son of Gun Runner in July. "This outstanding freshman sire will not only be remembered for his tremendous success on the racetrack, but also his warm and loving personality," O'Casaigh continued. "We would like to thank all of the staff at Taylor Made Stallions for their devoted affection and care of our wonderful mate EV. He loved being a Star and now he will live on through his prodigious progeny." Read: Researcher O'Casaigh Buys 90% Interest in Early Voting Early Voting became the first American classic winner for Gun Runner when he won the 2022 Preakness Stakes (G1). Three Chimneys Farm, which stands Gun Runner, bred Early Voting out of the Tiznow mare Amour d'Ete, who farm chairman Gonçalo Borges Torrealba bought for $1.75 million at the 2013 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The filly commanded a premium because she is out of the Storm Cat stakes winner and Canadian champion Silken Cat, the dam of champion sprinter and prominent sire Speightstown. Trainer Chad Brown and owner Seth Klarman bought Early Voting as a yearling for $200,000 under the name Triphammer Farm from the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He won his racing debut in December of his juvenile year at Aqueduct Racetrack and then launched his 3-year-old campaign with a 4 1/2-length win in the Withers Stakes (G3). He finished a neck shy of Mo Donegal in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2). While Early Voting qualified to start in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Brown opted to give the lightly raced colt more time and aimed for the Preakness instead. He won the Preakness by 1 1/4 lengths over Epicenter, who would later be named the year's champion 3-year-old male. Early Voting made two more starts that year and then was retired 3-1-0 record from six starts and $1,372,500 in earnings. He entered stud at Ashford Stud and bred 191 mares during his inaugural season but then started to show trouble getting mares impregnated late in the breeding season. Early Voting was eventually diagnosed with the rare condition of anejaculatory syndrome—the inability to ejaculate despite displaying all the other attributes of a healthy libido. O'Casaigh got involved with the horse because of work he has done at the University of Auckland Research Centre in Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Reproductive Sciences in New Zealand, where he is a research associate and senior lecturer. O'Casaigh has been involved in research to address reproductive issues in multiple species since he graduated from veterinary school in 1989. O'Casaigh used a treatment involving "chaperone protein," which his research team had isolated as important to communication within cells, on Early Voting and restored his reproduction viability. During this treatment, the stallion was transferred to Taylor Made Stallions, where Early Voting has been standing since 2024. Early Voting covered 77 mares in 2024, 64 mares in 2025, and 89 mares earlier this year. To date, Early Voting has sired 13 winners that included two black-type winners. The star of his first crop is Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1) winner Miss Monica, who is being aimed for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Early Voting also sired Iroquois Stakes (G3) runner-up He Is No Lie, who is expected to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).