Photo:

NBC Sports / Breeders’ Cup & Korea Racing Association – edited composite

Volponi, winner of the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic died in Korea Friday at age 27, according to a report by Joe Nevills of Paulick Report.

The death was recorded in Korea Racing Authority records, which typically do not list a cause of death, according to the report.

A son of Cryptoclearance, he was bred, trained and co-owned by Philip Johnson. He won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Arlington at 43-1 odds by 6 1/2 lengths over favorite Medaglia d’Oro.

Running on both grass and dirt, he compiled a record of 31: 7-12-5 and earnings of $3,187,232. Other graded-stakes wins came in the 2002 Poker (G3), 2001 Pegasus Handicap (G2) and 2000 Pilgrim (G3).

His final start was a 10th-place finish in the 2003 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, which was won by Pleasantly Perfect, who also topped the favored Medaglia d’Oro.