Dual grade I-winning millionaire Laughing, a finalist for the 2013 Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding female turf performer, died from colic at Mid Atlantic Equine Clinic in Ringoes, N.J.

Trained by Alan Goldberg for Richard Santulli, the 6-year-old mare fell ill the evening of Jan. 6. According to Allan Wise, DVM, resident veterinarian for Santulli’s Colts Neck Farm, her condition was "extremely painful."

"She went to surgery about 4 a.m. (Jan. 7) and expired on the table," Wise said. "She had been pretty healthy up until now. She had some issues like all horses do, but she was healthy enough to win four graded stakes. It’s really tough for the boss and all of us."

Wise said Santulli had planned to campaign Laughing through this year, and then retire her from racing to become a broodmare