Champion producer Nagano Moon passed away on Wednesday, Septmeber 18. The photo was taken at Vessels Stallion Farm on April 27, 2012 when she went there for breeding.

© courtesy Norma Alvarez

ANTHONY, NM–SEPTEMBER 22, 2024–Champion producer Nagano Moon passed away on Wednesday, September 18, from affirmatives of old age. She was 26 years old.

"We lost our beloved mare; she was our greatest blessing and joy," said Norma Alvarez.

Bred and owned by Norma and Dosi Alvarez, Nagano Moon is out of stakes-placed winner Tilted Moon by Tilt The Odds (TB) and a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Moon Shake, earner of $208,017 on the track.

The daughter of Major Rime lit the board three of six starts, including a third-place finish in the New Mexican Spring Fling. Nagano Moon retired after her first year of racing to her most accomplished career as a broodmare.

She had phenomenal success as a broodmare, producing over $2.3 million in earners, including one champion, 15 winners, 15 ROM, and eight blacktype horses from 16 starters. She ranked #35 on the All-Time Leading Dams by Money Earned list and was an All-Time Leading Dam of ROM.

Not only did Nagano Moon produce multiple black type runners who earned many accolades themselves, but her offspring also produced their own superstars, marking her as a Blue Hen Mare.

Nagano Moon's top performer is champion runner/sire First Moonflash. © Don Shugart

At the top of her list of offspring is champion runner and AQHA Supreme Race Horse First Moonflash, who broke four world records, one track record and earned nearly $1 million on the track with ten graded stakes victories, in addition to becoming a top 15 all-time leading sire of money earners.

First Moonflash has sired $30 million in progeny earnings. His leading money earners include three-time champion and AQHA Supreme Race Horse Flash And Roll ($1,710,718), two-time champion and All American Futurity [G1] winner Horse Handsome Jack Flash ($1,517,491) and All American Derby [G1] winner Too Flash For You ($1,065,692).

Nagano Moon is the dam of Dash Ta Moon, shown winning the Lubbock Handicap [G2].

Nagano Moon's next top money earner and producer is Superior Race Horse and four-time stakes winner Dash Ta Moon, who earned $352,305 on the track. She is the dam of stakes winner Osaka Moon ($86,486) and stakes-placed Moro Moon ($74,993).

Nagano Moon is the dam of Full Moon Dasher, shown winning the Four Corners Senora Stakes.

Nagano Moon also produced stakes winner/producer Full Moon Dasher, who earned $123,761.

Full Moon Dasher is the dam of multiple blacktype horses, including four-time stakes winner Dashnunder Afullmoon ($711,951), who produced graded stakes winners San Lencho ($650,397), San Lorenzo Moon ($375,118) and Masseto ($185,903).

Her other top blacktype horses include Grade 2 New Mexican Spring Fling winner Moonifisant ($201,484), La Pacifica Handicap winner Mesa Moonlight ($29,470), Rainbow Futurity [G1] runner-up Vancouver Moon ($350,719), West Texas Derby [G3] placed Moon Dynasty ($80,211) and stakes-placed New Moon Dynasty.

Nagano Moon is the grandam of many more horses, including AQHA champion Revenant Moon ($267,585), Grade 2 winner Chickaloni ($272,260), and great grandam of six-time stakes winner Bee A Freight Train ($120,863).

Nagano Moon has made her mark on the quarter horse industry, passing down her incredible genes to future generations. She was laid to rest at her home in Anthony, New Mexico at Lazy A Ranch.

Norma concluded, "We are so sad to say goodbye, but she lives on in the many babies she has produced. She is in God's pastures now."