If you've enjoyed Triple Crown Countdown, be sure to join me on my new horse racing website, www.theturfboard.com! I'll look forward to seeing you there!
-Keelerman
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
The Story of Friar Rock
By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman")
The legendary trainer Samuel Hildreth oversaw the careers of many talented racehorses, among them Grey Lag, Mad Hatter, Stromboli, King James, and Fitz Herbert. He won a remarkable seven editions of the Belmont Stakes, and trained ten horses that are recognized as champions of their divisions. But the best he ever trained may very well have been Friar Rock, a colt Hildreth described as "not only the best horse I have ever trained over a distance of ground, but the best I have ever seen." 1
Friar Rock was bred by August Belmont II, a man whose vast contributions to the history of the turf are generally overshadowed by his fateful decision to breed the mare Mahubah to Fair Play, which resulted in the birth of the immortal Man o' War. Friar Rock was bred along similar lines to Man o' War, being the tenth foal out of the stakes-winning mare Fairy Gold, well-known as the dam of Fair Play. Thus, Friar Rock was a half-brother to the sire of Man o' War. Furthermore, Friar Rock was sired by English Triple Crown-winner Rock Sand, the great broodmare sire whose reputation as such was garnered in part by his daughter Mahubah, the dam of Man o' War. Thus, where Friar Rock possessed the blood of Rock Sand and Fairy Gold as his parents, Man o' War possessed their lineage another generation back, as grandparents.
Pictures of Friar Rock reveal a fairly plain colt, unmarked save a white star just below his forelock. In terms of conformation, he was deemed less-than-stellar; Belmont is quoted in the June 25th, 1916 edition of the Daily Racing Form as saying "I was prejudiced against him as a two-year-old because of his unattractive neck and shoulders"—not a quote one hears every day! But unattractiveness aside, Friar Rock's talent on the racetrack would stamp him as the best of his generation, and very possibly several adjacent generations as well.
At the time of Friar Rock's birth in 1913, Rock Sand was enjoying success as a sire through his son Tracery, who had won the St. James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes, and the St. Leger Stakes during a four-race English campaign in 1912. Tracery would later win the Champion Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, and Burwell Plate as a four-year-old to further establish himself as the best of his foal crop.
But whereas Tracery began his career on the largest possible stage in racing, debuting with a third-place finish in the historic Derby at Epsom, Friar Rock began his career in much less noticeable fashion. The chestnut colt made his debut on May 26th, 1915, in an ordinary five-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park, which he won by two lengths in the time of 1:01 1/5 over a good track. Off this solid debut, he was wheeled right back in an allowance race one week later at the same track and distance. This time, he won by five lengths after tracking the early pace, and stopped the clock in a remarkable :58 3/5.
For Friar Rock's next start, Hildreth shipped the colt to the now-shuttered Jamaica race course, where Friar Rock romped to victory in another five-furlong allowance race, crossing the wire two lengths in front and posting a time of 1:01 1/5. Having thus gone unbeaten in his first three starts, Friar Rock made his stakes debut in Jamaica's 5 1/2-furlong Youthful Stakes, where he and his stablemate Libyan Sands were made the solid favorites. For the first time in Friar Rock's career, he did not reach the finish line first. Fourth early on through an opening quarter mile in :22 seconds flat, Friar Rock failed to muster a challenge of any kind and lost ground through the stretch, eventually finishing a distant fourth as Paddy Whack romped to a six-length triumph in 1:07 flat.
While some trainers might have been discouraged by this poor showing, Hildreth clearly was not, and Friar Rock's next engagement was the 5 1/2-furlong Whirl Stakes on July 17th at Belmont Park, which Friar Rock won by four lengths in near gate-to-wire fashion. Paddy Whack finished 12 1/2 lengths behind him in sixth. The official final time was 1:03 4/5, a new track record by one-fifth of a second, although the July 18th, 1915 edition of the Daily Racing Form notes that independent clockers caught Friar Rock in 1:05 4/5, which seems a more likely time given Friar Rock's reputation for stamina over sprinting speed.
From that point onward, Friar Rock had an up-and-down season. He did not appear under colors again until the August 14th Saratoga Special Stakes, where he ran into Dominant, who is considered to be the champion two-year-old of 1915. In the Special, Dominant lived up to his name, cruising to a spectacular seven-length triumph over Puss in Boots, who was in turn a length in front of Friar Rock. While the Belmont colt never challenged the winner, he was gaining ground on Puss in Boots at the finish, despite having raced wide throughout the race.
Next, Friar Rock was beaten into fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong handicap race at Saratoga. His weight assignment might have had something to do with the loss—he was carrying 120 pounds and conceding the top three finishers twenty, fourteen, and twenty-one pounds, respectively—however, the Daily Racing Form of August 21st notes that the colt "was in a jam right after the start, but made up ground in a manner that showed he would have won with a clear course." This opinion was vindicated when Friar Rock came back four days later to win Saratoga's Adirondack Stakes by three-quarters of a length over the good colt Achievement, who had been fourth in the Saratoga Special.
The next major goal was the seven-furlong Champagne Stakes at Belmont, and in preparation for that affair, Friar Rock was entered in the one-mile Port Washington Handicap at Belmont. A minor race open to horses of all ages, Friar Rock was the only two-year-old among the four horses entered, the others including a decent four-year-old named Harry Shaw and an eight-year-old in Reybourne. The latter led during the early stages of the race, but blew the first turn and allowed Harry Shaw to secure the lead. Friar Rock put in a good run after being shuffled back on the first turn, gamely closing ground on his elder rival through the homestretch, but Harry Shaw held firm to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the time of 1:39 2/5.
This would mark the last on-the-board finish of the season for Friar Rock, who wrapped up his juvenile season by finishing fourth to the English-bred Chicle in the Champagne Stakes, fifth to High Noon in the Columbus Handicap, and finally a dull eleventh behind Dodge and Spur in the Maryland Handicap.
Looking back on Friar Rock's juvenile season, it is clear that he was an above-average competitor, although certainly not in the same league as Dominant, or even George Smith, who won nine of twelve starts, including five stakes. But as we so often see, the very best two-year-olds of a given year tend to lose their lofty status as three-year-olds, while unheralded juveniles mature over the winter and turn the tables in the spring. Dominant would start only once as a three-year-old, finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby behind George Smith, who would fail to win in his three other starts as a sophomore.
But for Friar Rock, the story went differently. The winter break did him a world of good, and when he emerged in the spring, he was an entirely different animal.
Friar Rock's first engagement of 1916 was the prestigious one-mile Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, in which he would compete against his elders for the first time. In demonstration of how times have changed, it is extremely rare nowadays to see a three-year-old contest the Metropolitan at all, let alone in their first start of the year!
While the entrance of Friar Rock in the Metropolitan certainly hints at the high regard that Hildreth had for the colt, Friar Rock was surely a bit rusty in his seasonal debut, and would be facing a stiff challenge from his older opposition. First and foremost among his rivals was The Finn, a very capable horse recognized by historians as the champion three-year-old of 1915. Bred by John Madden and own by H. C. Hallenbeck, The Finn had undergone a very busy season during that championship year, heading to post a remarkable twenty times from May through October while winning the Belmont Stakes, Withers Stakes, Baltimore Handicap, Dixie Handicap, and five other races. Leading up to the Metropolitan, The Finn had lost both of his prep races and was winless for the year. However, the most recent of his defeats had come in the ten-furlong Kings County Handicap, in which The Finn had just barely succumbed by a half-length to the good mare Capra, who—by the nature of handicap racing—enjoyed the benefit of carrying twenty-two pounds less than the champion.
Another well-regarded contender in the Metropolitan was Stromboli, a stablemate of Friar Rock that was both owned by Belmont and trained by Hildreth. Stromboli was the defending Metropolitan champion, having won the race during a 1915 campaign that also saw him win the Suburban Handicap. In recognition of his achievements, he was asked to carry 122 pounds in the 1916 Metropolitan, two more than The Finn and twenty-two more than Friar Rock.
As was to be expected, Friar Rock was indeed a bit rusty, and never really reached contention while finishing seventh behind The Finn, who came running on the far outside under jockey Andy Schuttinger to defeat Stromboli by three-quarters of a length in the good time of 1:38 flat, which missed the stakes record by just one-fifth of a second. Spur, a three-year-old carrying just 100 pounds, finished three lengths back in third.
Despite Friar Rock's poor showing, Hildreth apparently lost no confidence in the colt, and Friar Rock's next start came in the ten-furlong Suburban Handicap, where he would carry 101 pounds into battle against The Finn (127) and Stromboli (123) once again. This time around, with the benefit of having a recent race under his belt, Friar Rock unleashed a marvelous performance. After tracking longshot Hauberk through an opening quarter in :24 2/5, Friar Rock took command of the lead on the backstretch, opened up a decisive advantage entering the homestretch, and finished under restraint to defeat the Irish-bred Short Grass by 2 1/2 lengths, with Stromboli and The Finn salvaging third and fourth.
Having achieved the early-season goal of defeating his elders, Friar Rock was returned to his own age division to contest the one-mile Withers Stakes. Given his credentials against the top handicap horses, Friar Rock should have found his competition in the Withers considerably easier to handle, and this belief was reflected by his being sent off as the heavy favorite. However, Friar Rock encountered a great deal of trouble during the course of the race. The June 7th Daily Racing Form notes that "on the far turn Friar Rock, attempting to go through [an opening] was forced to be taken back, losing many lengths," and also that "E. Haynes, who rode Friar Rock, was thrown against the fence and his leg was badly scraped in the mixup." Spur, who we mentioned previously as having beaten Friar Rock in both the Maryland and Metropolitan Handicaps, stayed out of trouble on the outside and went on to defeat Churchill by three-quarters of a length in 1:38 2/5, with Friar Rock another six lengths back in third.
Given the distance by which Friar Rock lost, it's difficult to say with certainty whether the interference cost him the race or not. Regardless, Friar Rock would even the score next time out in the historic Belmont Stakes, then run at one-mile and three-eighths. Off his defeat in the Withers, Friar Rock was sent off at odds of 5-2, with Spur being favored at about even money. Churchill and Chicle, the latter having been fifth in the Withers after setting the pace, were the only other horses in the race. Although rain had turned the track to mud, it didn't make any difference to Friar Rock, who waltzed around Belmont Park as if galloping through the mud was the most natural thing in the world. Back in 1916, Belmont Park actually consisted of two oval tracks; the present main track and a training track known as the "Belmont course," joined together at somewhat of a right angle at what is today the midway point of Belmont Park's first turn. As a result, the Belmont Stakes consisted of a long run down the homestretch of the training track, followed by a left-handed turn into the backstretch, at which point the horses crossed over on to the main track, negotiated a right-handed turn, and entered the Belmont homestretch running from right-to-left. It was at this crossing juncture that joined the two courses that Friar Rock and jockey E. Haynes won the 1916 Belmont Stakes. After leading for most of the way, Friar Rock had been surpassed by Spur and Churchill, and was racing a close third. At that point, the Daily Racing Form of June 11th explains that Friar Rock's victory "probably was due to Haynes' action in making a perfect turn out of the Belmont course into the main course, whereby he saved about six lengths... in almost a fraction of a second Haynes shot Friar Rock across the track and in less than fifty yards secured a lead of three lengths, which he maintained to the end." Friar Rock won eased up by three lengths over Spur in the time of 2:22 flat.
Having proven himself superior to his brethren—at least, over a distance of ground—Friar Rock was entered two weeks later in the Brooklyn Handicap, where he would once again face older horses. Stromboli and The Finn were not present, but there were plenty of other talented runners to be found, including Short Grass—whom Friar Rock had beaten in the Suburban—as well as the seventeen-time stakes winner Roamer, who is considered to have been the Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt of 1914, as well as the champion older horse of 1915. On his best day, Roamer was the equal of any horse in the country, as he had demonstrated in the National Handicap of 1915, in which he carried 132 pounds to a decisive three-length victory over Stromboli (123), with Short Grass (123) finishing third.
However, Roamer was not at his best entering the 1916 Brooklyn, having lost his first two starts of the year, and he would be carrying top weight of 131 pounds. In contrast, Friar Rock—as a three-year-old facing his elders—got into the race with only 108 pounds.
Before an estimated crowd of 20,000 spectators, longshot Sand Marsh was away quickest and opened up a three-length advantage through an opening quarter mile in :23 3/5, with Slumber II and Pennant his closest pursuers. Friar Rock, in the meantime, was in seventh place early on, 6 1/2 lengths behind Sand Marsh.
Sand Marsh continued to set a quick pace through a half-mile in :47 and six furlongs in 1:11—remarkably quick fractions for 1916—after which Slumber II moved up to take the lead, with Pennant and Roamer right behind him. A wild stretch run thus ensued, with Pennant claiming a narrow lead past the eighth pole, Roamer looming a threat for the win, only to tire in the final yards, and Slumber II digging deep to try and come back at Pennant.
It was well inside the eighth pole, with about a hundred yards to go, that Friar Rock unleashed his run. Rallying with powerful strides on the extreme outside, he swallowed up Pennant in the blink of an eye and won going away by two lengths.
The June 25th edition of the Daily Racing Form described the stretch run as follows: "Every jockey went to the whip in the last eighth and Pennant appeared like the winner when a sixteenth out. Roamer was done at that point. Out of the scramble came Friar Rock in the last hundred yards and, challenging Pennant, got up to win in the most sensational manner."
Sensational it was. The final time of 1:50 shaved three-fifths of a second off the track record. Slumber II finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Pennant in third and a neck ahead of the late-running Short Grass. Roamer, hampered by his substantial impost, tired late to finish fifth, although as we shall soon see, this would not be his final meeting with Friar Rock.
At this stage in time, with two major victories against older horses and the Belmont Stakes under his belt, there seemed to be nothing that Friar Rock couldn't do. However, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, Friar Rock's entrance in the Brooklyn Derby against fellow three-year-olds seems a bit curious. The race came just four days after the Brooklyn Handicap, and outside of monetary compensation, there seemed little to gain by running Friar Rock against a group of horses he had already beaten. There was, however, something to lose; that being the race itself. Whether the result of too little time between races, an off day, or something else entirely, Friar Rock could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Brooklyn Derby, beaten three lengths. 8-1 shot Chicle, whom Friar Rock had soundly beaten in both the Withers and the Belmont Stakes, was reported in the June 29th, 1916 edition of the Daily Racing Form to have "amazed ninety-nine [percent] of the spectators by winning in a canter after leading from start to finish." Star Hawk, an English-bred colt that had finished second in the Kentucky Derby, was the runner-up by a half-length over Churchill, with Spur yet another half-length back in fourth and a nose in front of Friar Rock.
The Brooklyn Derby marked the first of three consecutive sub-par showings by Friar Rock. Given two weeks rest, he emerged under colors on July 12th for the nine-furlong Empire City Handicap, where he would face eight rivals that included Roamer, Short Grass, Spur, and Stromboli. Once again, he failed to bring his running shoes, and wound up sixth as Short Grass beat Roamer by a length, with Spur another head back in third. Nineteen days later, Friar Rock was out again for the ten-furlong Saratoga Handicap, a race that was particularly notable at the time due to the presence of Regret, the filly that had famously won the 1915 Kentucky Derby. Making her first start in nearly a year, and only her second since the Derby, Regret set a moderate early pace of :50 seconds for the half-mile in 1:14 4/5 for three-quarters, after which she gave way to finish eighth and last as the 9-10 favorite. In the meantime, good old Stromboli came with a solid run that carried him to a 1 1/2-length victory in the time of 2:05 1/5, with Ed Crump finishing second by a similar margin over Friar Rock. Short Grass and The Finn were among the others in the field.
With Friar Rock showing signs of emerging from his slump, he was geared up for a run at the 1 3/4-mile Saratoga Cup, which would be the longest race of his career. Given his affinity for distance races, it appeared clear that Friar Rock would be difficult to beat, and possibly as a result, only two horses showed up to run against him. However, those two horses were Roamer and The Finn.
The Saratoga Cup would be a particularly important affair in regard to Friar Rock's legacy, for the simple reason that it was a weight-for-age race. No longer would Roamer and The Finn be asked to concede the young Friar Rock great amounts of weight; under the weight-for-age conditions, they would carry the weights believed to best compensate for their advantage in maturity. As a five-year-old, Roamer would carry 127 pounds. The Finn, being one year younger, would carry 126 pounds. Friar Rock would carry 113, a substantial shift from his runs in the Suburban and Brooklyn Handicaps.
The Finn, having just tied the track record in Saratoga's Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap one week prior, was favored at 9-10. Roamer, who had won the Saratoga Cup in 1915, was sent off at 9-2. Friar Rock split the two in terms of wagering, being sent off as the second choice at a bit less than 2-1.
To say that the race was a thriller would be a dramatic understatement. The August 27th Daily Racing Form described the race as a "[grueling] struggle from the start." The Finn and Roamer were the quickest into stride, and they alternated the early leader through the first ten furlongs, which included an opening half-mile of :55 seconds and a full mile in 1:47 1/5, the track being labeled good. Friar Rock was content to track them closely in third for much of the race, but rounding the far turn, he moved up strongly to engage The Finn in a duel for the lead. The pace quickened substantially at that stage, and from the end of the first mile to the time the field entered the homestretch—a distance of a half-mile—the runners were timed in an exceptional :49 2/5 seconds. The Finn, racing at a distance that was probably several furlongs beyond his best, gave way around the far turn and retreated from contention. But Roamer had been eyeing the battle from third place, and with Friar Rock having finished the dirty work of reeling in The Finn, Roamer set off to try and reel in Friar Rock.
The two horses came together at the top of the stretch, and were separated by just a head as they raced past the eighth pole. Locked in unison, with the Saratoga crowd cheering them on, it was as if the race was only now beginning; as if the first thirteen furlongs had been a mere appetizer for the show-stopping finale. Stride for stride, Friar Rock and Roamer raced as equals; stirring the emotions of those who witnessed the battle. It was unfortunate that one would have to lose, for both had run races worthy of winning. In the end, it was the stamina of Friar Rock that shone brightest. Inside the final hundred yards, he finally shook clear of the gallant Roamer, and drew away to win by two lengths in the time of 3:03 flat. In demonstration of how well both horses ran, the final quarter mile was timed in :26 2/5, a brilliant fraction coming at the conclusion of such a long race.
Unfortunately, the Saratoga Cup would prove to be Friar Rock's final start. According to the book Sire Lines, by Abram Hewitt, Friar Rock was sold "to the great breeder and horse trader, John E. Madden, at the end of the Saratoga meeting," for the price of $50,000. As Madden was primarily a breeder, Friar Rock was not kept in training for the 1917 racing season, being retired immediately to stud. Thus, the colt ended his career having won $20,365, the result of nine victories, one second, and three thirds from twenty-one starts.
Not surprisingly, historians consider Friar Rock to be the champion three-year-old colt of 1916, as well as the Horse of the Year. Being bestowed with the latter honor was perhaps as much the result of the lack of a standout older male as it was respect for Friar Rock's form, as good as it may have been. The reality is, Short Grass, Stromboli, The Finn, and Roamer exchanged victories throughout the year, and in beating each other time and time again, they also eliminated each other's chances of claiming Horse of the Year. For the record, Short Grass and Roamer are considered the co-champions of their division in 1916, despite the latter having only won a single race!
It is also interesting to note that Friar Rock ran against fellow three-year-old Spur five times in 1916, with Spur coming out ahead on four occasions—in the Metropolitan, the Withers, the Brooklyn Derby, and the Empire City Handicap. Friar Rock got the better of his rival just once, in the Belmont Stakes. Given that Spur also won the Travers, the Jerome Handicap, the Southhampton Handicap, the Knickerbocker Handicap, the Midsummer Handicap, and the Huron Handicap—while finishing unplaced just once in twenty-one starts!—it is a bit of an oddity that Spur wasn't considered at least co-champion of the age division.
As a sire, Friar Rock is generally regarded as a failure, although he did beget seventeen stakes winners, the best of which was probably Pilate, who won twenty-four of forty-four races from 1931-1933. Other notable foals included Emotion, champion three-year-old filly of 1922 and runner-up in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes; Friar's Carse, winner of the Fashion Stakes, Keene Memorial Stakes, and Clover Stakes; Inchcape, winner of the Tremont Stakes; and Rockminister, who—like his sire—showed an affinity for races of great length in winning the 1 3/4-mile Latonia Championships Stakes and the 2 1/4-mile Pimlico Cup during the course of his career, the former victory coming in track-record time.
Friar Rock died in 1928 at Shoshone Stud, having been sold by Madden in the mid-1920s. History generally considers Roamer to have been the best of the 1916 handicap stars, and in a ranking of the top one-hundred racehorses of the twentieth century compiled by The Blood-Horse, he made the list as number ninety-nine. Friar Rock failed to make the list.
But on that summer day at Saratoga, when Friar Rock and Roamer matched strides in an epic battle for supremacy of stamina, it was Friar Rock who emerged the winner. We won't claim he was the greatest racehorse there had ever been to that point in time, but then again—maybe he was.
References
1. Bowen, Edward. Masters of the Turf. Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2007. p.66.
The legendary trainer Samuel Hildreth oversaw the careers of many talented racehorses, among them Grey Lag, Mad Hatter, Stromboli, King James, and Fitz Herbert. He won a remarkable seven editions of the Belmont Stakes, and trained ten horses that are recognized as champions of their divisions. But the best he ever trained may very well have been Friar Rock, a colt Hildreth described as "not only the best horse I have ever trained over a distance of ground, but the best I have ever seen." 1
Friar Rock was bred by August Belmont II, a man whose vast contributions to the history of the turf are generally overshadowed by his fateful decision to breed the mare Mahubah to Fair Play, which resulted in the birth of the immortal Man o' War. Friar Rock was bred along similar lines to Man o' War, being the tenth foal out of the stakes-winning mare Fairy Gold, well-known as the dam of Fair Play. Thus, Friar Rock was a half-brother to the sire of Man o' War. Furthermore, Friar Rock was sired by English Triple Crown-winner Rock Sand, the great broodmare sire whose reputation as such was garnered in part by his daughter Mahubah, the dam of Man o' War. Thus, where Friar Rock possessed the blood of Rock Sand and Fairy Gold as his parents, Man o' War possessed their lineage another generation back, as grandparents.
Pictures of Friar Rock reveal a fairly plain colt, unmarked save a white star just below his forelock. In terms of conformation, he was deemed less-than-stellar; Belmont is quoted in the June 25th, 1916 edition of the Daily Racing Form as saying "I was prejudiced against him as a two-year-old because of his unattractive neck and shoulders"—not a quote one hears every day! But unattractiveness aside, Friar Rock's talent on the racetrack would stamp him as the best of his generation, and very possibly several adjacent generations as well.
At the time of Friar Rock's birth in 1913, Rock Sand was enjoying success as a sire through his son Tracery, who had won the St. James's Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes, and the St. Leger Stakes during a four-race English campaign in 1912. Tracery would later win the Champion Stakes, Eclipse Stakes, and Burwell Plate as a four-year-old to further establish himself as the best of his foal crop.
But whereas Tracery began his career on the largest possible stage in racing, debuting with a third-place finish in the historic Derby at Epsom, Friar Rock began his career in much less noticeable fashion. The chestnut colt made his debut on May 26th, 1915, in an ordinary five-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park, which he won by two lengths in the time of 1:01 1/5 over a good track. Off this solid debut, he was wheeled right back in an allowance race one week later at the same track and distance. This time, he won by five lengths after tracking the early pace, and stopped the clock in a remarkable :58 3/5.
For Friar Rock's next start, Hildreth shipped the colt to the now-shuttered Jamaica race course, where Friar Rock romped to victory in another five-furlong allowance race, crossing the wire two lengths in front and posting a time of 1:01 1/5. Having thus gone unbeaten in his first three starts, Friar Rock made his stakes debut in Jamaica's 5 1/2-furlong Youthful Stakes, where he and his stablemate Libyan Sands were made the solid favorites. For the first time in Friar Rock's career, he did not reach the finish line first. Fourth early on through an opening quarter mile in :22 seconds flat, Friar Rock failed to muster a challenge of any kind and lost ground through the stretch, eventually finishing a distant fourth as Paddy Whack romped to a six-length triumph in 1:07 flat.
While some trainers might have been discouraged by this poor showing, Hildreth clearly was not, and Friar Rock's next engagement was the 5 1/2-furlong Whirl Stakes on July 17th at Belmont Park, which Friar Rock won by four lengths in near gate-to-wire fashion. Paddy Whack finished 12 1/2 lengths behind him in sixth. The official final time was 1:03 4/5, a new track record by one-fifth of a second, although the July 18th, 1915 edition of the Daily Racing Form notes that independent clockers caught Friar Rock in 1:05 4/5, which seems a more likely time given Friar Rock's reputation for stamina over sprinting speed.
From that point onward, Friar Rock had an up-and-down season. He did not appear under colors again until the August 14th Saratoga Special Stakes, where he ran into Dominant, who is considered to be the champion two-year-old of 1915. In the Special, Dominant lived up to his name, cruising to a spectacular seven-length triumph over Puss in Boots, who was in turn a length in front of Friar Rock. While the Belmont colt never challenged the winner, he was gaining ground on Puss in Boots at the finish, despite having raced wide throughout the race.
Next, Friar Rock was beaten into fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong handicap race at Saratoga. His weight assignment might have had something to do with the loss—he was carrying 120 pounds and conceding the top three finishers twenty, fourteen, and twenty-one pounds, respectively—however, the Daily Racing Form of August 21st notes that the colt "was in a jam right after the start, but made up ground in a manner that showed he would have won with a clear course." This opinion was vindicated when Friar Rock came back four days later to win Saratoga's Adirondack Stakes by three-quarters of a length over the good colt Achievement, who had been fourth in the Saratoga Special.
The next major goal was the seven-furlong Champagne Stakes at Belmont, and in preparation for that affair, Friar Rock was entered in the one-mile Port Washington Handicap at Belmont. A minor race open to horses of all ages, Friar Rock was the only two-year-old among the four horses entered, the others including a decent four-year-old named Harry Shaw and an eight-year-old in Reybourne. The latter led during the early stages of the race, but blew the first turn and allowed Harry Shaw to secure the lead. Friar Rock put in a good run after being shuffled back on the first turn, gamely closing ground on his elder rival through the homestretch, but Harry Shaw held firm to win by 1 1/2 lengths in the time of 1:39 2/5.
This would mark the last on-the-board finish of the season for Friar Rock, who wrapped up his juvenile season by finishing fourth to the English-bred Chicle in the Champagne Stakes, fifth to High Noon in the Columbus Handicap, and finally a dull eleventh behind Dodge and Spur in the Maryland Handicap.
Looking back on Friar Rock's juvenile season, it is clear that he was an above-average competitor, although certainly not in the same league as Dominant, or even George Smith, who won nine of twelve starts, including five stakes. But as we so often see, the very best two-year-olds of a given year tend to lose their lofty status as three-year-olds, while unheralded juveniles mature over the winter and turn the tables in the spring. Dominant would start only once as a three-year-old, finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby behind George Smith, who would fail to win in his three other starts as a sophomore.
But for Friar Rock, the story went differently. The winter break did him a world of good, and when he emerged in the spring, he was an entirely different animal.
Friar Rock's first engagement of 1916 was the prestigious one-mile Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, in which he would compete against his elders for the first time. In demonstration of how times have changed, it is extremely rare nowadays to see a three-year-old contest the Metropolitan at all, let alone in their first start of the year!
While the entrance of Friar Rock in the Metropolitan certainly hints at the high regard that Hildreth had for the colt, Friar Rock was surely a bit rusty in his seasonal debut, and would be facing a stiff challenge from his older opposition. First and foremost among his rivals was The Finn, a very capable horse recognized by historians as the champion three-year-old of 1915. Bred by John Madden and own by H. C. Hallenbeck, The Finn had undergone a very busy season during that championship year, heading to post a remarkable twenty times from May through October while winning the Belmont Stakes, Withers Stakes, Baltimore Handicap, Dixie Handicap, and five other races. Leading up to the Metropolitan, The Finn had lost both of his prep races and was winless for the year. However, the most recent of his defeats had come in the ten-furlong Kings County Handicap, in which The Finn had just barely succumbed by a half-length to the good mare Capra, who—by the nature of handicap racing—enjoyed the benefit of carrying twenty-two pounds less than the champion.
Another well-regarded contender in the Metropolitan was Stromboli, a stablemate of Friar Rock that was both owned by Belmont and trained by Hildreth. Stromboli was the defending Metropolitan champion, having won the race during a 1915 campaign that also saw him win the Suburban Handicap. In recognition of his achievements, he was asked to carry 122 pounds in the 1916 Metropolitan, two more than The Finn and twenty-two more than Friar Rock.
As was to be expected, Friar Rock was indeed a bit rusty, and never really reached contention while finishing seventh behind The Finn, who came running on the far outside under jockey Andy Schuttinger to defeat Stromboli by three-quarters of a length in the good time of 1:38 flat, which missed the stakes record by just one-fifth of a second. Spur, a three-year-old carrying just 100 pounds, finished three lengths back in third.
Despite Friar Rock's poor showing, Hildreth apparently lost no confidence in the colt, and Friar Rock's next start came in the ten-furlong Suburban Handicap, where he would carry 101 pounds into battle against The Finn (127) and Stromboli (123) once again. This time around, with the benefit of having a recent race under his belt, Friar Rock unleashed a marvelous performance. After tracking longshot Hauberk through an opening quarter in :24 2/5, Friar Rock took command of the lead on the backstretch, opened up a decisive advantage entering the homestretch, and finished under restraint to defeat the Irish-bred Short Grass by 2 1/2 lengths, with Stromboli and The Finn salvaging third and fourth.
Having achieved the early-season goal of defeating his elders, Friar Rock was returned to his own age division to contest the one-mile Withers Stakes. Given his credentials against the top handicap horses, Friar Rock should have found his competition in the Withers considerably easier to handle, and this belief was reflected by his being sent off as the heavy favorite. However, Friar Rock encountered a great deal of trouble during the course of the race. The June 7th Daily Racing Form notes that "on the far turn Friar Rock, attempting to go through [an opening] was forced to be taken back, losing many lengths," and also that "E. Haynes, who rode Friar Rock, was thrown against the fence and his leg was badly scraped in the mixup." Spur, who we mentioned previously as having beaten Friar Rock in both the Maryland and Metropolitan Handicaps, stayed out of trouble on the outside and went on to defeat Churchill by three-quarters of a length in 1:38 2/5, with Friar Rock another six lengths back in third.
Given the distance by which Friar Rock lost, it's difficult to say with certainty whether the interference cost him the race or not. Regardless, Friar Rock would even the score next time out in the historic Belmont Stakes, then run at one-mile and three-eighths. Off his defeat in the Withers, Friar Rock was sent off at odds of 5-2, with Spur being favored at about even money. Churchill and Chicle, the latter having been fifth in the Withers after setting the pace, were the only other horses in the race. Although rain had turned the track to mud, it didn't make any difference to Friar Rock, who waltzed around Belmont Park as if galloping through the mud was the most natural thing in the world. Back in 1916, Belmont Park actually consisted of two oval tracks; the present main track and a training track known as the "Belmont course," joined together at somewhat of a right angle at what is today the midway point of Belmont Park's first turn. As a result, the Belmont Stakes consisted of a long run down the homestretch of the training track, followed by a left-handed turn into the backstretch, at which point the horses crossed over on to the main track, negotiated a right-handed turn, and entered the Belmont homestretch running from right-to-left. It was at this crossing juncture that joined the two courses that Friar Rock and jockey E. Haynes won the 1916 Belmont Stakes. After leading for most of the way, Friar Rock had been surpassed by Spur and Churchill, and was racing a close third. At that point, the Daily Racing Form of June 11th explains that Friar Rock's victory "probably was due to Haynes' action in making a perfect turn out of the Belmont course into the main course, whereby he saved about six lengths... in almost a fraction of a second Haynes shot Friar Rock across the track and in less than fifty yards secured a lead of three lengths, which he maintained to the end." Friar Rock won eased up by three lengths over Spur in the time of 2:22 flat.
Having proven himself superior to his brethren—at least, over a distance of ground—Friar Rock was entered two weeks later in the Brooklyn Handicap, where he would once again face older horses. Stromboli and The Finn were not present, but there were plenty of other talented runners to be found, including Short Grass—whom Friar Rock had beaten in the Suburban—as well as the seventeen-time stakes winner Roamer, who is considered to have been the Horse of the Year and champion three-year-old colt of 1914, as well as the champion older horse of 1915. On his best day, Roamer was the equal of any horse in the country, as he had demonstrated in the National Handicap of 1915, in which he carried 132 pounds to a decisive three-length victory over Stromboli (123), with Short Grass (123) finishing third.
However, Roamer was not at his best entering the 1916 Brooklyn, having lost his first two starts of the year, and he would be carrying top weight of 131 pounds. In contrast, Friar Rock—as a three-year-old facing his elders—got into the race with only 108 pounds.
Before an estimated crowd of 20,000 spectators, longshot Sand Marsh was away quickest and opened up a three-length advantage through an opening quarter mile in :23 3/5, with Slumber II and Pennant his closest pursuers. Friar Rock, in the meantime, was in seventh place early on, 6 1/2 lengths behind Sand Marsh.
Sand Marsh continued to set a quick pace through a half-mile in :47 and six furlongs in 1:11—remarkably quick fractions for 1916—after which Slumber II moved up to take the lead, with Pennant and Roamer right behind him. A wild stretch run thus ensued, with Pennant claiming a narrow lead past the eighth pole, Roamer looming a threat for the win, only to tire in the final yards, and Slumber II digging deep to try and come back at Pennant.
It was well inside the eighth pole, with about a hundred yards to go, that Friar Rock unleashed his run. Rallying with powerful strides on the extreme outside, he swallowed up Pennant in the blink of an eye and won going away by two lengths.
The June 25th edition of the Daily Racing Form described the stretch run as follows: "Every jockey went to the whip in the last eighth and Pennant appeared like the winner when a sixteenth out. Roamer was done at that point. Out of the scramble came Friar Rock in the last hundred yards and, challenging Pennant, got up to win in the most sensational manner."
Sensational it was. The final time of 1:50 shaved three-fifths of a second off the track record. Slumber II finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Pennant in third and a neck ahead of the late-running Short Grass. Roamer, hampered by his substantial impost, tired late to finish fifth, although as we shall soon see, this would not be his final meeting with Friar Rock.
At this stage in time, with two major victories against older horses and the Belmont Stakes under his belt, there seemed to be nothing that Friar Rock couldn't do. However, looking back with the benefit of hindsight, Friar Rock's entrance in the Brooklyn Derby against fellow three-year-olds seems a bit curious. The race came just four days after the Brooklyn Handicap, and outside of monetary compensation, there seemed little to gain by running Friar Rock against a group of horses he had already beaten. There was, however, something to lose; that being the race itself. Whether the result of too little time between races, an off day, or something else entirely, Friar Rock could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Brooklyn Derby, beaten three lengths. 8-1 shot Chicle, whom Friar Rock had soundly beaten in both the Withers and the Belmont Stakes, was reported in the June 29th, 1916 edition of the Daily Racing Form to have "amazed ninety-nine [percent] of the spectators by winning in a canter after leading from start to finish." Star Hawk, an English-bred colt that had finished second in the Kentucky Derby, was the runner-up by a half-length over Churchill, with Spur yet another half-length back in fourth and a nose in front of Friar Rock.
The Brooklyn Derby marked the first of three consecutive sub-par showings by Friar Rock. Given two weeks rest, he emerged under colors on July 12th for the nine-furlong Empire City Handicap, where he would face eight rivals that included Roamer, Short Grass, Spur, and Stromboli. Once again, he failed to bring his running shoes, and wound up sixth as Short Grass beat Roamer by a length, with Spur another head back in third. Nineteen days later, Friar Rock was out again for the ten-furlong Saratoga Handicap, a race that was particularly notable at the time due to the presence of Regret, the filly that had famously won the 1915 Kentucky Derby. Making her first start in nearly a year, and only her second since the Derby, Regret set a moderate early pace of :50 seconds for the half-mile in 1:14 4/5 for three-quarters, after which she gave way to finish eighth and last as the 9-10 favorite. In the meantime, good old Stromboli came with a solid run that carried him to a 1 1/2-length victory in the time of 2:05 1/5, with Ed Crump finishing second by a similar margin over Friar Rock. Short Grass and The Finn were among the others in the field.
With Friar Rock showing signs of emerging from his slump, he was geared up for a run at the 1 3/4-mile Saratoga Cup, which would be the longest race of his career. Given his affinity for distance races, it appeared clear that Friar Rock would be difficult to beat, and possibly as a result, only two horses showed up to run against him. However, those two horses were Roamer and The Finn.
The Saratoga Cup would be a particularly important affair in regard to Friar Rock's legacy, for the simple reason that it was a weight-for-age race. No longer would Roamer and The Finn be asked to concede the young Friar Rock great amounts of weight; under the weight-for-age conditions, they would carry the weights believed to best compensate for their advantage in maturity. As a five-year-old, Roamer would carry 127 pounds. The Finn, being one year younger, would carry 126 pounds. Friar Rock would carry 113, a substantial shift from his runs in the Suburban and Brooklyn Handicaps.
The Finn, having just tied the track record in Saratoga's Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap one week prior, was favored at 9-10. Roamer, who had won the Saratoga Cup in 1915, was sent off at 9-2. Friar Rock split the two in terms of wagering, being sent off as the second choice at a bit less than 2-1.
To say that the race was a thriller would be a dramatic understatement. The August 27th Daily Racing Form described the race as a "[grueling] struggle from the start." The Finn and Roamer were the quickest into stride, and they alternated the early leader through the first ten furlongs, which included an opening half-mile of :55 seconds and a full mile in 1:47 1/5, the track being labeled good. Friar Rock was content to track them closely in third for much of the race, but rounding the far turn, he moved up strongly to engage The Finn in a duel for the lead. The pace quickened substantially at that stage, and from the end of the first mile to the time the field entered the homestretch—a distance of a half-mile—the runners were timed in an exceptional :49 2/5 seconds. The Finn, racing at a distance that was probably several furlongs beyond his best, gave way around the far turn and retreated from contention. But Roamer had been eyeing the battle from third place, and with Friar Rock having finished the dirty work of reeling in The Finn, Roamer set off to try and reel in Friar Rock.
The two horses came together at the top of the stretch, and were separated by just a head as they raced past the eighth pole. Locked in unison, with the Saratoga crowd cheering them on, it was as if the race was only now beginning; as if the first thirteen furlongs had been a mere appetizer for the show-stopping finale. Stride for stride, Friar Rock and Roamer raced as equals; stirring the emotions of those who witnessed the battle. It was unfortunate that one would have to lose, for both had run races worthy of winning. In the end, it was the stamina of Friar Rock that shone brightest. Inside the final hundred yards, he finally shook clear of the gallant Roamer, and drew away to win by two lengths in the time of 3:03 flat. In demonstration of how well both horses ran, the final quarter mile was timed in :26 2/5, a brilliant fraction coming at the conclusion of such a long race.
Unfortunately, the Saratoga Cup would prove to be Friar Rock's final start. According to the book Sire Lines, by Abram Hewitt, Friar Rock was sold "to the great breeder and horse trader, John E. Madden, at the end of the Saratoga meeting," for the price of $50,000. As Madden was primarily a breeder, Friar Rock was not kept in training for the 1917 racing season, being retired immediately to stud. Thus, the colt ended his career having won $20,365, the result of nine victories, one second, and three thirds from twenty-one starts.
Not surprisingly, historians consider Friar Rock to be the champion three-year-old colt of 1916, as well as the Horse of the Year. Being bestowed with the latter honor was perhaps as much the result of the lack of a standout older male as it was respect for Friar Rock's form, as good as it may have been. The reality is, Short Grass, Stromboli, The Finn, and Roamer exchanged victories throughout the year, and in beating each other time and time again, they also eliminated each other's chances of claiming Horse of the Year. For the record, Short Grass and Roamer are considered the co-champions of their division in 1916, despite the latter having only won a single race!
It is also interesting to note that Friar Rock ran against fellow three-year-old Spur five times in 1916, with Spur coming out ahead on four occasions—in the Metropolitan, the Withers, the Brooklyn Derby, and the Empire City Handicap. Friar Rock got the better of his rival just once, in the Belmont Stakes. Given that Spur also won the Travers, the Jerome Handicap, the Southhampton Handicap, the Knickerbocker Handicap, the Midsummer Handicap, and the Huron Handicap—while finishing unplaced just once in twenty-one starts!—it is a bit of an oddity that Spur wasn't considered at least co-champion of the age division.
As a sire, Friar Rock is generally regarded as a failure, although he did beget seventeen stakes winners, the best of which was probably Pilate, who won twenty-four of forty-four races from 1931-1933. Other notable foals included Emotion, champion three-year-old filly of 1922 and runner-up in both the Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes; Friar's Carse, winner of the Fashion Stakes, Keene Memorial Stakes, and Clover Stakes; Inchcape, winner of the Tremont Stakes; and Rockminister, who—like his sire—showed an affinity for races of great length in winning the 1 3/4-mile Latonia Championships Stakes and the 2 1/4-mile Pimlico Cup during the course of his career, the former victory coming in track-record time.
Friar Rock died in 1928 at Shoshone Stud, having been sold by Madden in the mid-1920s. History generally considers Roamer to have been the best of the 1916 handicap stars, and in a ranking of the top one-hundred racehorses of the twentieth century compiled by The Blood-Horse, he made the list as number ninety-nine. Friar Rock failed to make the list.
But on that summer day at Saratoga, when Friar Rock and Roamer matched strides in an epic battle for supremacy of stamina, it was Friar Rock who emerged the winner. We won't claim he was the greatest racehorse there had ever been to that point in time, but then again—maybe he was.
References
1. Bowen, Edward. Masters of the Turf. Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2007. p.66.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Hero of Humor Wins Fair Grounds Allowance Race
In today's fourth race at Fair Grounds, a one-mile and seventy-yard allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds, LeComte Stakes (gr. III) sixth-place finisher Hero of Humor won by a half-length. With Francisco Torres in the saddle, the son of Sharp Humor tracked fractions of :22.90 and :47.03 set by favored Lucky Stranger, then took command after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.61 and held off a determined late charge from A. Rod Again to cross the wire in front in the time of 1:44.90 seconds.
2015 Withers Stakes Nominees
The nominations for the February 7th Withers Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct have been released. Among the nominees to this 8.5-furlong Kentucky Derby prep race are Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) winner El Kabeir and the undefeated Todd Pletcher-trained allowance winner Itsaknockout. The complete list of nominees is as follows:
2015 Donn Handicap Nominees
The nominations for the Donn Handicap (gr. I) on February 7th at Gulfstream Park have been released. Among the nominees are Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Commissioner, Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Constitution, Clark Handicap (gr. I) winner Hoppertunity, and last year's Donn winner Lea. The complete list of nominees is as follows:
On the Work Tab: 1-26-15
2014 Eclipse champion three-year-old filly Untapable and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) runner-up Tapiture returned to the work tab at Fair Grounds this morning, with each horse breezing an easy half-mile. Here's are a few quick details of their workouts, along with a few other morning works of note:
Sunday, January 25, 2015
On the Work Tab: 1-25-15
It was a very busy day for morning workouts, particularly at Palm Beach Downs, where Todd Pletcher sent out a large group of talented runners! Here's a quick rundown of the morning highlights:
The Great War Entered in 96Rock Stakes
The Great War, who finished fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), is scheduled to make his three-year-old debut on January 31st in the $75,000 96Rock Stakes at Turfway Park. The Great War will carry 122 pounds in this 6 1/2-furlong sprint, four more than his eleven rivals. Here are the entries:
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Mischief Clem Upsets California Cup Derby
Mischief Clem pulled off a 12-1 upset in the $250,000 California Cup Derby on January 24th at Santa Anita Park, defeating Pulmarack by a determined head as heavily favored Acceptance retreated to finish fourth.
Cinco Charlies Wins Riley Allison Stakes
1-5 favorite Cinco Charlie picked up the fifth stakes victory of his career on January 24th when he won the $100,000 Riley Allison Stakes at Sunland Park by 8 1/2 lengths.
Upstart Impresses in Holy Bull Stakes
Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) third-place finisher Upstart turned in an eye-catching performance in his three-year-old debut, drawing off to score an impressive victory in the $400,000 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park.
January 24th Racing Schedule
Get ready, everyone! A terrific day of racing awaits! For convenience in keeping track of all the action, I have compiled a list of the day's best races, arranged in order of post time:
On the Work Tab: 1-24-15
Promising three-year-olds Bold Conquest, Carpe Diem, Daredevil, Firing Line, and Imperia were among the major names on the work tab this morning. Here's a quick rundown of the morning highlights!
Friday, January 23, 2015
January 23rd: A Busy Day for 3yo Racing Action
There are number of interesting maiden and allowance races for three-year-olds being held across the country today, some of which have already been run.
Kentucky Derby Top Twelve: 1-23-15
1. Dortmund (Big Brown - Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat) Trained by Bob Baffert
Breezed seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23 2/5 on January 21st at Santa Anita and is targeting a start in the February 7th Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita. To see him working this sharply 2 1/2 weeks before his seasonal debut suggests that he will be ready to roll in the Lewis.
Breezed seven furlongs in a bullet 1:23 2/5 on January 21st at Santa Anita and is targeting a start in the February 7th Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita. To see him working this sharply 2 1/2 weeks before his seasonal debut suggests that he will be ready to roll in the Lewis.
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Palace Malice Posts First Workout of 2015
2013 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Palace Malice, a two-time finalist in the Eclipse awards, posted his first workout of the year on the morning of January 21st, breezing three furlongs in :36 4/5 at Aiken in South Carolina.
On This Day in Racing History: One Count Wins his 3yo Debut
It was on this day in 1952 that One Count -- who would be voted the champion three-year-old colt of that year -- began made his three-year-old debut in a seven-furlong allowance race at Hialeah Park. The son of Count Fleet had run three times as a juvenile, finishing unplaced in a pair of six-furlong maiden races over the Widener course at Belmont before breaking his maiden going a mile and seventy yards at Garden State Park.
On the Work Tab: 1-21-15
It was a busy day for morning workouts, particularly in California, where Shared Belief breezed six furlongs as he continues his preparations for the San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) on February 7th. Here's a quick rundown of the most notable workouts!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Jan. 24th a Busy Day for 3yo Stakes Races
There are going to be plenty of interesting stakes races for three-year-olds this Saturday! Here's a list of all the races on schedule, along with a few notes on the expected starters:
Far Right Rallies for Smarty Jones Victory
Far Right saved ground throughout and finished with an impressive rally to win the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Park, a race in which favored Mr. Z dived outward in the homestretch while holding a clear lead and wound up finishing third.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Instant Replay Wins Oaklawn Allowance Race
In today's seventh race at Oaklawn Park, an 8.5-furlong allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds, Instant Replay rallied to score a 12-1 upset under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan. Trained by Wayne Catalano for Gary and Mary West, the son of Lemon Drop Kid settled well behind early fractions of :23.30, :47.65, and 1:13.43, then rallied on the extreme outside to win by a length in the time of 1:46.43. Phenomenal Phoenix, coming off of a fourth-place finish in the Remington Springboard Mile, raced wide throughout and made a sweeping move to take command at the top of the stretch before tiring to finish second.
Cinco Charlie Entered in Riley Allison Futurity
Four-time stakes winner Cinco Charlie, who most recently won the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds, will attempt to stretch his speed beyond 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time when he starts in the one-mile Riley Allison Futurity on January 24th at Sunland Park. Here are the entries:
Fantastic Style Breaks Maiden Impressively at Santa Anita
Bob Baffert's talented three-year-old filly Fantastic Style looked very good winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Santa Anita Park this afternoon! With Martin Garcia aboard, the daughter of Harlan's Holiday set fractions of :22.02 and :45.05 before drawing off with ease in the homestretch to win by about three lengths in the time of 1:09.10. Never Ends, a first-time starter from the barn of Jerry Hollendorfer, rallied well to finish second in a promising debut.
Fantastic Style, who is out of the mare Ruby Summer, is owned by Kaleem Shah.
Fantastic Style, who is out of the mare Ruby Summer, is owned by Kaleem Shah.
2015 Hutcheson Stakes Entries
Spectacular Bid Stakes winner Barbados and Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner Bluegrass Singer are among eight three-year-olds that have been entered in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III) on January 24th at Gulfstream Park. Here are the entries:
Blame Game, Overcontrol Entered in Gulfstream Allowance Race
Blame Game and Overcontrol, a pair of promising maiden winners trained by Todd Pletcher, are among nine three-year-old colts and gelding entered to race in Saturday's fourth race at Gulfstream Park, a one-mile allowance optional claiming race. Here are the entries:
2015 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) Entries
Remsen Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Frosted and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) third-place finisher Upstart are among ten three-year-olds that have been entered in the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. Here are the entries:
On the Work Tab: 1-19-15
Newly-crowned 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome was one of several big-name horses that posted workouts at racetracks across the country this morning. Here's a quick look at some of the highlights!
On the Work Tab: 1-18-15
It was a busy day for morning workouts at racetrack across the country, particularly at Palm Beach Downs, where trainer Todd Pletcher sent out grade I winners Angela Renee, Competitive Edge, and Constitution to post solid workouts. Here's a quick rundown of the morning action:
Sunday, January 18, 2015
International Star Rallies for LeComte Triumph
9-1 shot International Star gave owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker their second consecutive victory in the $200,000 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds, rallying on the outside to win the one-mile and seventy-yard race by 2 1/2 lengths.
Ridden to victory by Miguel Mena, the New York-bred son of Fusaichi Pegasus got off to an excellent start and soon settled along the rail in sixth place, about five lengths off the early pace set by Runhappy, Hero of Humor, and Tiznow R J. The first-mentioned colt, making only his second start, was bumped and squeezed at the start, then was bumped several more times in traffic before rushing up to take the lead after a half-mile in a quick :47.07.
Moving around the final turn, Runhappy began to tire after his early exertions, and Tiznow R J moved up to take command after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.35. He was then challenged on the outside by War Story, who made a four-wide bid around the final turn, and also Another Lemon Drop, who moved up along the rail to challenge under jockey Calvin Borel.
Entering the final furlong, War Story led by a head over Tiznow R J, but International Star had shifted to the outside after racing in behind horses and was rallying strongly. Coming down to the finish, International Star unleashed a strong finish, leaving his rivals behind to score in decisive fashion while stopping the clock in 1:43.62.
War Story narrowly edged Tiznow R J for second, while Another Lemon Drop completed the superfecta. Savoy Stomp and Hero of Humor were the next two finishers, while favored Eagle failed to fire after rallying into contention at the top of the stretch and faded to seventh. Dekabrist, Runhappy, Killingit, and Four Leaf Chief completed the order of finish.
For his victory, International Star earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualification points, bring his total to 21.
Ridden to victory by Miguel Mena, the New York-bred son of Fusaichi Pegasus got off to an excellent start and soon settled along the rail in sixth place, about five lengths off the early pace set by Runhappy, Hero of Humor, and Tiznow R J. The first-mentioned colt, making only his second start, was bumped and squeezed at the start, then was bumped several more times in traffic before rushing up to take the lead after a half-mile in a quick :47.07.
Moving around the final turn, Runhappy began to tire after his early exertions, and Tiznow R J moved up to take command after three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.35. He was then challenged on the outside by War Story, who made a four-wide bid around the final turn, and also Another Lemon Drop, who moved up along the rail to challenge under jockey Calvin Borel.
Entering the final furlong, War Story led by a head over Tiznow R J, but International Star had shifted to the outside after racing in behind horses and was rallying strongly. Coming down to the finish, International Star unleashed a strong finish, leaving his rivals behind to score in decisive fashion while stopping the clock in 1:43.62.
War Story narrowly edged Tiznow R J for second, while Another Lemon Drop completed the superfecta. Savoy Stomp and Hero of Humor were the next two finishers, while favored Eagle failed to fire after rallying into contention at the top of the stretch and faded to seventh. Dekabrist, Runhappy, Killingit, and Four Leaf Chief completed the order of finish.
For his victory, International Star earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualification points, bring his total to 21.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Remembering Flying Ebony
As we await this weekend's major stakes races, I thought I would take a moment to mention that 2015 marks the ninetieth anniversary of the year Flying Ebony won the 1925 Kentucky Derby. One of two Derby winners sired by the very talented runner The Finn (the other being the remarkable Zev), Flying Ebony was not the most notable of runners -- he won just two stakes races during a thirteen-race career -- but permanently etched his name in history with his victory in the Derby. Facing nineteen rivals over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs, Flying Ebony was quick into stride grabbed the early lead through an opening quarter in :23 2/5, but then relinquished the advantage to Captain Hal through a half-mile in :47 3/5, six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and a mile in 1:39 3/5. However, entering the homestretch, Flying Ebony advanced again to reclaim the lead and drew clear under jockey Earl Sande to defeat Captain Hal by 1 1/2 lengths in the time of 2:07 3/5.
Bred by the famed John E. Madden, Flying Ebony would prove to be a successful stallion, with one of his best foals being Dark Secret, who heroically won the 1934 Jockey Club Gold Cup despite fracturing his leg in deep stretch. The name Flying Ebony may not receive many mentions today, but on May 16th, 1925, he enjoyed a moment of glory as the best three-year-old in the country!
Reynaldothewizard, Le Bernardin Win at Meydan
The nine-year-old gelding Reynaldothewizard, who had not won a race since taking the $2 million Dubai Gold Shaheen (UAE-I) in March 2013, returned to the winner's circle on January 15th in the $150,000 Dubawi Stakes at Meydan.
Trained by Satish Seemar for Zabeel Racing International, Reynaldothewizard raced in fifth early on as Caspian Prince, Conveyance, and Muarrab dueled through quick fractions of :23.09 and :46.63. Entering the final quarter mile, Muarrab shook clear of his fellow pace-setters, but was soon challenged by Reynaldothewizard, who rallied strongly along the rail to take command and draw clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The final time for 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) was 1:12.236.
Muarrab finished second best over United Color, who rallied from seventh to secure the show. Conveyance and Caspian Prince faded to finish eighth and tenth, respectively.
Earlier on the card, the former American runner Le Bernardin scored a convincing victory in a 2,000-meter (about ten furlongs) handicap race on the dirt track, tracking modest early fractions of :49.72 and 1:14.33 before seizing a clear lead and opening up on his rivals to score by 4 3/4 lengths in the time of 2:06.060. The six-year-old son of Bernardini won the 2012 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park and has now won two of his four starts on the new dirt track at Meydan.
Trained by Satish Seemar for Zabeel Racing International, Reynaldothewizard raced in fifth early on as Caspian Prince, Conveyance, and Muarrab dueled through quick fractions of :23.09 and :46.63. Entering the final quarter mile, Muarrab shook clear of his fellow pace-setters, but was soon challenged by Reynaldothewizard, who rallied strongly along the rail to take command and draw clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths. The final time for 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) was 1:12.236.
Muarrab finished second best over United Color, who rallied from seventh to secure the show. Conveyance and Caspian Prince faded to finish eighth and tenth, respectively.
Earlier on the card, the former American runner Le Bernardin scored a convincing victory in a 2,000-meter (about ten furlongs) handicap race on the dirt track, tracking modest early fractions of :49.72 and 1:14.33 before seizing a clear lead and opening up on his rivals to score by 4 3/4 lengths in the time of 2:06.060. The six-year-old son of Bernardini won the 2012 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III) at Monmouth Park and has now won two of his four starts on the new dirt track at Meydan.
General a Rod Finished Fourth in Return
2014 Gulfstream Park Derby winner General a Rod, who had not run since finishing seventh in the 2014 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), finished fourth in his return to the races on January 14th at Gulfstream Park.
Cozmic One Breezes Five Furlongs
Cozmic One, the first foal out of 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, breezed five furlongs in 1:03 1/5 at Santa Anita Park on the morning of January 15th. The work, which was the thirty-ninth fastest of forty-four morning works at that distance, was Cozmic One's fourth since mid-December 21st. From all appearances, the colt is training well and gearing up for his eagerly-anticipated first start.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
On the Work Tab: 1-13-15
Malibu Stakes (gr. I) winner Shared Belief posted a bullet workout at Golden Gate Fields this morning, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.80 seconds. He seems to be staying very sharp as he prepares for his rematch against California Chrome in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes (gr. II) on February 7th at Santa Anita Park.
Conveyance Entered to Race in Dubai
This afternoon, I was examining the entries for the January 15th card at Meydan, and I saw a familiar old name entered in the $150,000 Dubawi Stakes -- Conveyance! Now eight years old, the son of Indian Charlie was a prominent name on the 2010 Kentucky Derby trail when trained by Bob Baffert, winning the San Rafael Stakes (gr. III) and Southwest Stakes (gr. III) before finishing second in the Sunland Derby (gr. III) and fifteenth in the Kentucky Derby. Subsequently transferred to the barn of Satish Seemar, Conveyance made two starts in Dubai in March 2011, then went to the sidelines for nearly three years before returning on February 27th, 2014 to finish third in a handicap race at Meydan. Another lengthy break ensued, but Conveyance came back on December 18th to finish second in a listed stakes, and seems poised to turn in a good effort on Thursday. Certainly the conditions of the Dubawi Stakes seem ideal for Conveyance -- the race is a six-furlong sprint on the dirt track.
Among his primary rivals are Reynaldothewizard, winner of the 2013 Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-I), and United Color, who finished third in that same race last year. It should be a good race!
Also, earlier on the card, the former American runner Le Bernardin will be in action once again, starting in a 2,000-meter handicap race one week after finishing third in a similar event at Meydan.
Monday, January 12, 2015
A Quick Look Back at the 2012 Kentucky Derby Trail
Three years ago today, on January 12th, 2012, I posted my "Top Twenty" list of Kentucky Derby contenders. Although eventual Derby winner I'll Have Another was not on my list, the overall strength of the top Derby contenders that year is reflected in how many of the horses on my list made it to Churchill Downs for the Derby. Of the twenty horses, a remarkable eleven ran in the Derby, including the top four on my list -- Creative Cause, Hansen, Union Rags, and Rousing Sermon.
As one might recall, 2012 was the year in which an extraordinary number of the previous year's best juveniles progressed into top-notch three-year-olds. For example, of the thirteen starters in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), nine went on to run in the 2012 Derby -- amazing! If only every year could be like 2012, with few injuries to the major contenders and plenty of good juveniles maturing into exceptional three-year-olds!
As one might recall, 2012 was the year in which an extraordinary number of the previous year's best juveniles progressed into top-notch three-year-olds. For example, of the thirteen starters in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I), nine went on to run in the 2012 Derby -- amazing! If only every year could be like 2012, with few injuries to the major contenders and plenty of good juveniles maturing into exceptional three-year-olds!
Top Decile Returns in Silverbulletday Stakes
Top Decile, runner-up in both the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) and Alcibiades Stakes (gr. I) last fall, is scheduled to make her three-year-old debut in the $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on January 17th at Fair Grounds.
The daughter of Congrats has drawn post nine in the one-mile and seventy-yard race, which has also attracted unbeaten Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) winner West Coast Belle.
Here are the entries:
1 I'm a Chatterbox
2 West Coast Belle
3 Divine Dawn
4 Money'soncharlotte
5 Forever Unbridled
6 Zooming
7 Queen's Ready
8 Slava
9 Top Decile
The daughter of Congrats has drawn post nine in the one-mile and seventy-yard race, which has also attracted unbeaten Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) winner West Coast Belle.
Here are the entries:
1 I'm a Chatterbox
2 West Coast Belle
3 Divine Dawn
4 Money'soncharlotte
5 Forever Unbridled
6 Zooming
7 Queen's Ready
8 Slava
9 Top Decile
2015 LeComte Stakes (gr. III) Post Positions
The post positions have been drawn for the January 17th LeComte Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds! The one-mile and seventy-yard race is an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and will award a total of seventeen Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top four finishers.
Kentucky Derby Top Twelve 1-12-15
1. Dortmund (Big Brown - Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat) Trained by Bob Baffert
He's breezed once since winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I), going a half-mile in :48 3/5 on January 4th at Santa Anita Park. Time will tell when and where he runs next, but at this stage, the February 7th Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita seems like a logical target.
He's breezed once since winning the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I), going a half-mile in :48 3/5 on January 4th at Santa Anita Park. Time will tell when and where he runs next, but at this stage, the February 7th Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita seems like a logical target.
On the Work Tab: 1-12-15
Tonalist, Eagle, and Mr. Z were among the prominent horses to turn in workouts across the country this morning! Here's a quick rundown of the highlights:
Sunday, January 11, 2015
A 3yo to Watch: March
In today's fifth race at Aqueduct, an 8.5-furlong maiden special weight for three-year-olds, March turned in a very nice effort to win by a neck over Don'tbetwithbruno. Trained by Chad Brown for owner Robert LaPenta, March was sent off as the 4-5 favorite off a runner-up effort in his debut and lived up to expectations, tracking fractions of :24.11, :48.57, and 1:13.25 before opening up a lead in the homestretch and holding off a late charge from the runner-up to triumph. The final time for a mile and seventy yards was a good 1:43.34. Don'tbetwithbruno, a Todd Pletcher/Mike Repole colt coming off a fourth-place effort finish in his debut, saved ground throughout and rallied well in the homestretch to just miss winning. The top two finished approximately seven or eight lengths in front of the third-place horse.
A 3yo to Watch: Materiality
Materiality, a first-timer starter from the barn of Todd Pletcher, looked very nice breaking his maiden this afternoon at Gulfstream Park! Sent off as the 8-5 favorite in a six-furlong maiden special weight, the son of Afleet Alex flashed speed from the start under jockey John Velazquez, tracking fractions of :22.50 and :45.56 before drawing off in the stretch to win by four lengths. The final time over a sloppy track was a quick 1:10.32 seconds. Star's Ride, a 17-1 shot from the barn of Nick Zito, rallied well to finish second in a promising effort.
Competitive Edge Returns to the Work Tab
Good news! Competitive Edge, who went to the sidelines after winning the Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga, returned to the work tab this morning at Palm Beach Downs! The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Super Saver breezed three furlongs in :36.98 seconds, presumably in company with stablemate and Chandelier Stakes (gr. I) winner Angela Renee, who breezed the same distance in an identical time.
2014 Eclipse Award Selections
With the Eclipse awards scheduled to be announced on January 17th, and with racing fans everywhere busily sharing their thoughts on which horses and people should win each award, I thought I would take a moment to share my selections for each division. Enjoy!
Calculator Triumphs in Sham Stakes
The two-time grade I-placed colt Calculator won his first race on January 10th when he scored a convincing victory in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
On the Work Tab: 1-10-15
There were plenty of notable workouts at racetracks across the country this morning! Here are some of the highlights:
California Chrome: Six furlongs in 1:11.60 at Los Alamitos
Firing Line: Four furlongs in :48.00 at Santa Anita Park
General a Rod: Four furlongs in :50.66 at Gulfstream Park
Havana: Three furlongs in :38.92 at Palm Beach Downs
Texas Red: Six furlongs in 1:17.80 at Santa Anita Park
Vinceremos: Three furlongs in :36.59 at Palm Beach Downs
Wicked Strong: Three furlongs in :37.00 at Palm Meadows
Wildcat Red: Five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Gulfstream Park
Firing Line: Four furlongs in :48.00 at Santa Anita Park
General a Rod: Four furlongs in :50.66 at Gulfstream Park
Havana: Three furlongs in :38.92 at Palm Beach Downs
Texas Red: Six furlongs in 1:17.80 at Santa Anita Park
Vinceremos: Three furlongs in :36.59 at Palm Beach Downs
Wicked Strong: Three furlongs in :37.00 at Palm Meadows
Wildcat Red: Five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Gulfstream Park
Glory Impresses at Santa Anita
Glory, a three-year-old filly trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, looked very good breaking her maiden at Santa Anita this afternoon! Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight, Glory broke quickly and pressed longshot Kiana Believes through an opening quarter in :22.46, then easily took command through a half-mile in :45.52 and drew off under urging to win by just over two lengths over the late-running Wild at Heart. The final time of 1:15.06 was nearly a second quicker than the promising three-year-old Guy Code ran in winning an allowance event one race earlier on the card.
Commissioner Finishes Third in Return at Gulfstream
Commissioner, who went to the sidelines with an ankle chip after being beaten a head in last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), turned in an excellent performance in his comeback race to finish third in an 8.5-furlong allowance optional claiming race on January 10th at Gulfstream Park.
A 3yo to Watch: Guy Code
In today's opening race at Santa Anita, a 6 1/2-furlong allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds, Guy Code stamped himself as a colt to keep an eye on by posting an impressive victory against six rivals. Sent off as the favorite at 9-5, Guy Code battled longshot Dr. Vincentstein for the early lead through fractions of :21.76 and :44.36, then opened up a decisively advantage at the top of the stretch and cruised home to win rather easily. The final time was 1:15.92.
Remembering Pan Zareta
Earlier today, the $60,000 Pan Zareta Stakes was held at Fair Grounds. The 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint commemorates the great mare Pan Zareta, who was in the middle of her racing career at this time one-hundred years ago. A daughter of Abe Frank out of the Rancocas mare Caddie Griffith, Pan Zareta was born in 1910. She was not the kind of mare that you would compare to Zenyatta, Ruffian, or Personal Ensign on class. In a career that spanned six years, she won just six stakes races. The majority of her victories came in little handicap races with purses often less than a thousand dollars. A sprinter, she won just over half of her total starts, an admirable feat but certainly nothing rare for a good horse.
Friday, January 09, 2015
On This Day in Racing History: Native Diver Wins the San Carlos
Welcome to the first in a series of occasional blog posts titled "On This Day in Racing History," which -- as the name implies! -- will celebrate historical events in racing history that occurred on a given day many years ago. Enjoy!
General a Rod Returns to Action at Gulfstream Park
2014 Gulfstream Park Derby winner General a Rod, who hasn't run since finishing seventh in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), has been entered in a seven-furlong allowance optional claiming race on January 14th at Gulfstream Park.
Ride On Curlin Entered to Race on Thursday
Good news! Ride On Curlin, who finished second behind California Chrome in the 2014 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), has been entered to run in a six-furlong allowance race on Thursday at Oaklawn Park!
Thursday, January 08, 2015
Eblouissante Entered in Paseana Stakes
Eblouissante, the six-year-old half-sister to 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta, has been entered to race on January 11th in the $75,000 Paseana Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Kentucky Derby Top Twelve 1-8-15
1. Dortmund (Big Brown - Our Josephina, by Tale of the Cat) Trained by Bob Baffert
This very promising Baffert-trained colt is unbeaten in three starts thus far, including a gritty victory despite a wide trip in the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) on December 20th. He's not the most explosive colt, but he does possess a steady finishing kick and figures to get better with more distance.
This very promising Baffert-trained colt is unbeaten in three starts thus far, including a gritty victory despite a wide trip in the Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) on December 20th. He's not the most explosive colt, but he does possess a steady finishing kick and figures to get better with more distance.
A Few Thoughts on the Eclipse Awards
Yesterday, the finalists for the Eclipse awards were announced to the public, spawning renewed debate on which horses should win each award. Some categories are clear-cut, such as champion three-year-old filly, in which it would be a surprise if Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) winner Untapable does not win in unanimous fashion. Other categories, such as champion older male, are more contentious -- do you reward turf star Main Sequence as the best older male in the country, or do you conclude that the honor is really supposed to honor the best older male on dirt, in which case Palace Malice is the most logical candidate for the award.
A 3yo to Watch: Tradesman
Although his record reflects that he is still a maiden, Tradesman stamped himself as a very promising three-year-old when he finished first in a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park this afternoon, only to be disqualified and placed sixth for interference in the homestretch.
Recapping Day 1 of the Dubai World Cup Carnival
The 2015 Dubai World Cup Carnival at Meydan began earlier today with a seven-race card highlighted by the group II Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 Presented by Longines. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, prominent entrants included Dubai Creek Mile winner Surfer and 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I) winner Outstrip.
Wednesday, January 07, 2015
The Return of Commissioner
Good news! Commissioner, who went to the sidelines with an ankle chip following a runner-up effort in the 2014 Belmont Stakes (gr. I), has been entered to run on Saturday in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park! Here are the entries:
A Few Thoughts on Meydan's Opening Day Card
The 2015 Dubai Racing Carnival, which culminates with the rich and prestigious Dubai World Cup program on March 28th, is set to begin on January 8th. This year's Carnival promises to be particularly intriguing thanks to the presence of a new dirt track, which replaces the synthetic Tapeta surface that has been in use since Meydan opened in 2010.
2014 Sham Stakes (gr. III) Entries
The entries for Saturday's $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park have been released! The one-mile race drew a field of eight, including three colts from the barn of Peter Miller. Here is the field:
A Few Interesting Derby Statistics
In a recent blog post for Bloodhorse.com, I considered the question of whether or not Kentucky Derby preps in January have much of an impact on the Derby itself. The results were slightly inconclusive, although my research did reveal that no Derby winner since Barbaro in 2006 has won a graded stakes race during the January of their three-year-old season.
Welcome back to Triple Crown Countdown!
Welcome back to Triple Crown Countdown! I know it's been a while since my last post, but with the five-year anniversary of my very first blog post coming up on January 10th, I thought now would be an opportune time to start posting again. After all, this year's crop of three-year-olds appear to be a very promising group, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they progress during the coming months! I hope you'll join me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)