Risen Star, the 1988 Thoroughbred champion 3-year-old colt whose career at stud never matched his exploits on the track, died March 13 at the Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary clinic near Lexington, Ky., as a result of colic. The 13-year-old son of Secretariat stood at Walmac International near Lexington.

Walmac general manager John T. L. Jones Jr. said Risen Star had been bothered by stomach problems throughout his stud career and that he began this year’s breeding season late after undergoing surgery two months ago. At the time of his death, Risen Star had serviced three mares this year.

Bred in Kentucky by Arthur Hancock III and the late Leone Peters, Risen Star was purchased for $300,000 by Louisiana-based owner-trainer Louie Roussel III from the Stone Farm consignment to the 1987 Fasig-Tipton Florida select sale of 2-year-olds in training at Calder Racecourse. The previous year the colt had been retained by his breeders after the high bid of $210,000 was below the $250,000 reserve price when he was consigned to the Keeneland July selected yearling sale.

Trained by Roussel on behalf of himself and partner Ronnie Lamarque, Risen Star had two wins from three starts as a juvenile and finished second behind eventual Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Success Express in the Sport of Kings Futurity