Chilean Champion Kay Army Dies Following Complicated Pneumonia

The Katmai colt spent a week hospitalized at Rood & Riddle Clinic in Kentucky but was unable to recover

Kay Army Capturing the St. Leger—A True Star Has Passed / JAIME CORTÉS P.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).- Heartbreaking news emerged Wednesday with the death of Chilean champion Kay Army, the Katmai colt who succumbed to a complicated pneumonia.

Despite being immediately transferred to the prestigious Rood & Riddle Clinic and receiving a week of intensive care, the chestnut was unable to overcome the illness and passed away Wednesday morning.

Owned and bred by Ignacio and Ignacio Hurtado Jr., Kay Army was a star in Chilean and South American racing before heading to the United States, where circumstances never unfolded as planned.

In Chile, out of Soviet Army (Pure Prize), he captured the Chilean Triple Crown, remaining unbeaten in 10 starts across the country’s three main tracks. His streak included wins in the El Derby (G1), St. Leger (G1), El Ensayo MEGA (G1), Nacional Ricardo Lyon (G1), Polla de Potrillos (G1), Alberto Vial Infante (G1), and the Criadores Machos Marcel Zarour (G2), Alvaro Covarrubias P. (G3), and Cotejo de Potrillos (G1). His career began with a victory in his debut at Club Hípico de Santiago.

After moving north, Kay Army suffered an injury during early training that required several months of recovery, delaying his U.S. debut until May 3, when he finished third in the Fort Marcy Stakes (G2) at Belmont under the care of Bill Mott. On June 14, he competed at Delaware Park in the Cape Henlopen Stakes (L), but the campaign ended with him unseated on the track, leaving his future uncertain once again.

Subsequently, he was sent to Ignacio Correas (h.)’s stud, where extensive evaluations cleared him of any lingering physical issues from the Maryland incident. He resumed training nearly normally, with his last recorded workout on August 5, covering 800 meters in 49.40 seconds on Keeneland’s dirt.

A great and unique horse, Kay Army leaves behind immense sadness at his untimely passing, compounded by the frustration of never being able to witness his full potential in the United States—a journey that began with sky-high expectations and ended in the most tragic and unexpected way.