HANDICAP PERFECTION

(This is the second of a five part series.)

PART TWO: A GOOD YEAR, A TOUGH YEAR

In 1938, Tom Fool’s sire, Menow, had been the top horse on John B. Campbell’s Experimental Free Handicap of incoming three-year-olds.  In 1952, Campbell’s list named 128 sophomores, including several fillies, with Rose Jet the top runner among her gender at 115, and fifteenth overall. The leader of the entire crop was Tom Fool, with an assignment of 126 pounds, three more than Hopeful Stakes winner Cousin, Oh Leo, and Primate. Hill Gail, a four length winner over Tom Fool in the previous year’s Anticipation Purse, shared 122 pounds with Armageddon; next was Jet Master, under 121, followed by Jet’s Date at 120, and Hannibal at 119. Put Out and The Pimpernal rounded the top ten under 118.

Return engagement

Tom Fool vacationed in South Carolina, and didn’t make his three-year-old debut until April 7, 1952 in a six furlong allowance at Jamaica, worth $10,000. Cousin and Primate would also make their sophomore debuts in the race. Two other entries were Everglades winner One Throw, owned by Ogden Phipps, and juvenile stakes winner Master Fiddle. Armageddon, a bay colt who was  blind, or going so, in one eye, and enduring a four race drought, was in. Tom Fool and Cousin carried 120 and the others 117.

The close outcome was deceptive. Tom Fool, favored by many of the 27,000 spectators, took the lead early and easily maintained his advantage as Primate made a brief challenge turning for home. Cousin, who trailed at the start, also rallied well, and these three finished close together with Tom Fool a neck ahead of Primate, who edged Cousin by the same margin. Another two lengths back was Armageddon. Running with reserve, the winner’s time was an uneventful 1:12 1/5, and he pocketed $6,500. With the Kentucky Derby less than a month away, Tom Fool had enhanced his reputation as the leader of the division, and would run back in twelve days in the Wood Memorial Stakes.

The prep

In 1925, the inaugural winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes, called simply the Wood Stakes in its first two years, was a chestnut gelding son of Whisk Broom II, named Backbone. It was run at Jamaica Race Track, where it continued until 1959.  The race began as a one mile, seventy yard affair, and was lengthened to 1 1/16 miles in 1940. Gallant Fox, in 1930, Count Fleet, in 1943, and Assault, in 1946, all won the race before sweeping the American Triple Crown. There would be one other Wood Memorial/Triple Crown winner in 1977, when Seattle Slew achieved enduring fame as an undefeated horse. Four years before Slew, and to everyone’s bewilderment, racing’s greatest horse of the latter century, Secretariat, finished third in the Wood, four lengths back of the winner, only to have an abscess in his mouth later discovered. The Wood Memorial continues to be one of racing’s major Derby prep races and final stops on the way to Churchill Downs.

The players

In 1952, Tom Fool and his peers would be the first class to negotiate the Wood Memorial at 1 1/8 miles, which in the ensuing years has remain unchanged. If everybody showed up, the starting gate would have fourteen three-year-olds, all nominated to the Derby, with Tom Fool, Cousin, and Primate taking most of the betting action. Other runners were Master Fiddle, a grey/roan son of multiple stakes winning /placed First Fiddle out of the Sir Gallahad (Fr.) mare Marsh Marigold, and a runner-up in a division of the Experimental Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. He hadn’t won since a stakes score the previous year, and thus far in 1952,  had dropped six races. Other entries were Jambol, Orco, and Count Flame, the latter a son of Count Fleet, and stablemate of Master Fiddle. Count Flame was out of the mare Morning, by champion American Flag, by Man o'War. Hannibal, who had won the six furlong Experimental, was entered, as was Armageddon, and Florida Derby winner Sky Ship.

Several of the horses had already run the distance, but only two had carried the 126 pound assignment, required in the upcoming classics. Tom Fool, who still needed to answer both questions, worked six furlongs a few days before the contest and appeared ready.

The drama

When the gate opened for the 28^th renewal of the Wood Memorial Stakes, Tom Fool quickly went into the lead but was passed by the longshot, Pintor, going around the clubhouse turn, with a quarter in :23 4/5 and the half in :48. The two maintained their positions through the back stretch, and left the far turn with six furlongs in 1:12 and a mile in 1:38 3/5.  Heading down the stretch, Tom Fool saved ground on the inside and eventually regained his lead, and with less than a furlong to run, it looked like he was home free. Master Fiddle, barely uttering a peep during much of the race, was now rallying under Dave Gorman down the middle of the track. He caught Tom Fool just yards before the wire, crossing over by a neck. Tom Fool, after a game effort, finished second, a half-length ahead of Pintor, who in turn finished with a half-length advantage over Hannibal, who was followed by Count Flame. Cousin and Primate checked in eighth and eleventh respectively. Master Fiddle finished the race in 1:52 2/5, well off the track mark, and collected $45,200 of the $63,300 purse. Tom Fool cashed $10,000.

Gorman had been the principle jockey in 1951 on the Count Fleet chestnut colt Counterpoint, who finished eleventh in the Derby when Master Fiddle’s trainer, Sol Rutchick, had sent out another Count Fleet runner, Count Turf, to pick up the roses. Counterpoint went on however to be named Horse of the Year.  Rutchick now had Master Fiddle, in addition to Count Flame, headed to Louisville.

Under the weather

Tom Fool’s loss in the Wood Memorial wasn’t the worst of it. It had been a tough race on him, going a distance he had not covered before. Two days later the colt spiked a temperature of 102, and developed a cough, prompting Gaver to declare him out of the Derby. Two other defections were Primate, who sustained a gash in his leg after the break, and Jambol with a cut to his mouth. It was possible that with a satisfactory recovery Tom Fool could make the Preakness. As it turned out, he missed the Preakness and also the Belmont Stakes, and wouldn't race again until late June; thus, his career had taken a detour, after his illness denied him participation in the most glorious events in American racing. During his absence, Hill Gail won the Derby, Jambol returned to annex the Preakness Stakes, and One Count, also sired by Count Fleet, took the Belmont Stakes.

Tough return

Tom Fool returned on June 26, at Aqueduct, in the six furlong Rippey Handicap. Despite not racing for more than two months, his 126 pound assignment gave an allowance of six to twenty-four pounds to seven other runners. After the break Giorgetti and True Pattern vied for the lead until they entered the stretch. Tom Fool, who had sat mid-pack, advanced but couldn’t come to terms with Hitex, one position ahead of him, and a fitter horse after six previous starts on the year. Hitex was also carrying six fewer pounds. Atkinson went to his whip, but Tom Fool was unable to reach the new leader who prevailed by a head at the wire. Tom Fool crossed next, and two lengths back in third was Duke Fanelli, under a feathery 102 pounds.

Once, but only once

Perhaps still lacking fitness and full strength, on July 14 Tom Fool finished fourth of five starters in a seven furlong allowance at Arlington Park, called the Tazwell Purse worth $6,000.  It was the only time in his career that he finished lower than third.

A busy horse

Tom Fool had many races ahead in 1952. Approximately three weeks after Arlington Park, the colt returned to Saratoga for his next three starts, beginning with the one mile Wilson Stakes on August 5. The surface was sloppy. He had not been at his best under these conditions but having already been pulled from the Arlington Classic due to an off-track, he either had to race or work, and Gaver decided to test him against older horses. He would carry only 106 pounds, and one of his stablemates, four-year-old Northern Star, who had experienced success over wet tracks, was entered with him, under high weight of 120. Tom Fool was the only three-year-old in the mix, and would meet four-year-old Colony Date, under 114, and the previous year’s Pimlico Special winner, Bryan G, a five-year-old, assigned 117. When the jig was up, Tom Fool had scampered away by four and a half lengths. Northern Star, who got the ball rolling, was challenged in the back stretch by Bryan G, as Tom Fool stayed well behind. Northern Star put more than two lengths on the field coming out of the turn, but Tom Fool started to rally in the stretch, keeping near the rail. He passed the leader with plenty to spare, galloped freely to the finish in a pedestrian 1:39 2/5, and collected his second sophomore win and $11,000.

Six days later Tom Fool started in a 1 1/8 mile allowance. The Saratoga track was now listed “slow” and in the process of drying out was more demanding than it had been in the Wilson. After winning on a similar surface, Tom Fool was made less than even odds among the bettors, going off at 4-5. Seven horses started the race, with six of them preparing for the 1 ¼ mile Travers Stakes on August 16. Among the entries was Count Flame, who had recently logged a stakes victory.

During the race, Tom Fool sat in second, close to the early leader, Golden Gloves, and went ahead approaching home. Count Flame, in fourth, was now advancing to his outside. Tom Fool tried to maintain his advantage but was unable to keep the new threat contained, and at the wire, Count Flame had him measured by a nose. Another half-length back in third was Golden Gloves.

Travers Stakes

Tom Fool, on only five days rest, would now attempt 1 ¼ miles in the 83^rd running of the Travers Stakes, and the Saratoga strip was still off, having gone from sloppy in the Wilson, to slow in the allowance, and now back to sloppy again. Rain had deluged the area and reappeared intermittently throughout the day, but didn’t deter more than 22,000 fans. Ten three-year-olds were slated to go but Quiet Step decided to skip it, leaving nine including One Count. The Belmont winner had been laid up with a foot bruise but had since demonstrated good form in workouts. Riding him was Eric Guerin. Two races earlier Guerin piloted a big, juvenile grey colt named Native Dancer to his fourth win without a defeat, in the six furlong Saratoga Special.

One Count and Tom Fool would break next to each other in posts three and four respectively. Armageddon won the Withers over One Count, and also captured the Peter Pan Stakes, and parked himself a few doors down. Count Flame returned to try and make it two in a row against Tom Fool.

When the gates opened Tom Fool quickly took the lead under Atkinson and maintained it swinging out of the far turn. He weakened in the stretch and the stalkers, One Count and Armageddon, ran him down. One Count, saving more ground near the rail, arrived first followed by Armageddon, three lengths behind. Another length back in third was Tom Fool, who measured Flaming Prince by a half-length. Count Flame, after settling in third throughout most of the race, ultimately faltered and finished sixth. Owned by Mrs. Walter Jeffords, One Count collected $16,450 of the $20,000 added purse. For his third place effort, Tom Fool picked up $2,000, and would head back to Belmont Park .

Jerome, Sysonby, Roamer

It was now mid-September, but Tom Fool still had plenty to do.  In the one mile Jerome Handicap, on September 17, he would face Calumet Farm’s Mark-Ye-Well, a Bull Lea standout, who had already posted six wins in eight starts, including victories in the Arlington Classic and American Derby. He took favoritism, followed by Tom Fool and Armageddon. Mark-Ye-Well was also asked to carry 130 pounds, giving a generous allowance of ten pounds to Tom Fool; however, Mark-Ye-Well would have “the Master,” Eddie Arcaro, on his back.

Despite Arcaro’s lofty reputation and success, he and Mark-Ye-Well were no match for the resurgence of Tom Fool, who after three straight races on an off-track, finally got the fast surface he relished. Before approximately 20,000 spectators, Tom Fool romped home by seven lengths, with Golden Gate Derby winner Marcador just edging out Mark-Ye-Well by a neck for second. Atkinson had kept Tom Fool in proximity to the early leader, Quiet Step, before taking over the leadership coming out of the far turn. Mark-Ye-Well was stationed in third but when the real running started, he didn’t change gears.Tom Fool kept going, covering the mile in 1:37, and earning $17,000 of the $20,000 purse.

Tom Fool raced again less than two weeks later in the one mile Sysonby Handicap tackling older horses in a field of eight, which included Argentinian-bred Miche, the horse who snapped Citation’s sixteen-race winning streak in 1950. Unfortunately Miche would leave the track lame after finishing last. As the race unfolded, Tom Fool stayed back in third while Cyclotron and Greek Ship set the pace. Finally, in the straight for home, the Menow colt breezed to the front, keeping four-year-old Alerted at bay by one and a quarter lengths in a nice time of 1:36 4/5.  His performance was even more remarkable with the 126 pound load he carried, way over scale, and giving his elders, in second and third, actual weight of eight pounds each.

Tom Fool would make his remaining four starts of 1952 at Jamaica, beginning with the 1 3/16 mile Roamer Handicap, worth $47,100, on October 11. With his impressive wins in the Wilson, Jerome, and Sysonby, his reputation was on the move again, but the Roamer wouldn’t be a walk in the park. He’d carry 126 pounds over a distance that was just a half furlong short of the classic 1 ¼ mile real estate. Tom Fool would have to concede twelve to twenty-eight pounds to eight opponents, including Brush Burn, winner of the 1 1/8 mile Turf Club Handicap at Laurel the previous week, and Saranac Handicap winner Golden Gloves. Marcador, second to Tom Fool in the Jerome, would also run.

When the gates opened Quiet Step jumped ahead and set a brisk pace, maintaining his position around the clubhouse turn and down the back stretch as Marcador advanced into second. At the far turn, Marcador slipped briefly ahead but Quiet Step regained his leadership role entering the stretch. Tom Fool, who had been back in fifth, began to rally, advancing closer, but he was giving fifteen pounds, and at the finish Quiet Step was in front by two lengths, with Tom Fool a length ahead of late charging Risque Rogue, under a feathery 105. After fractions of :23 1/5, :47 2/5, 1:11, and 1:36 1/5, the final clocking was a speedy 1:55 4/5, very close to the track mark. Quiet Step cashed $32,600, Tom Fool $8,000, and the two horses would meet again one week later.

Tom Fool’s next two races were Jamaica’s Grey Lag and Westchester Handicaps, both at 1 1/8 miles. He would meet an opponent who spent his career flirting with greatness, and one whom Tom Fool would likely never forget.

Battlefield

Whoever named this horse certainly got it right. Bred in Kentucky by John A. Bell, Jr., George Widener’s Battlefield was a Two-Year-Old Male Champion in 1950.  A chestnut colt, sired by War Relic, Battlefield was a paternal grandson of Man o’War, and his broodmare sire, Preakness Stakes winner Display, was also a son of Fair Play, making Battlefield inbred 3Sx3D to Man o’War’s sire. It is unknown to this writer what Battlefield’s temperament was, but he was inbred 4SX4D to Hastings, Man o'War's paternal grandsire, and one of the meanest horses on record. Battlefield also had a strong connection to English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand (GB), through Man o’War’s dam Mahubah, a daughter of Rock Sand and again through War Relic’s dam, Friar Carse, a paternal granddaughter of Rock Sand, through her sire Friar Rock.

Conditioned by Bert Mulholland, Battlefield started his career with four consecutive victories at age two. He had won or placed in several key stakes races, and among his many victories were the Youthful (Div 2), Tremont, Sapling, Saratoga Special, Hopeful, Belmont’s Futurity, Withers, Dwyer, Travers, and New York Handicap.  He must have enjoyed giving his connections near heart failure because in his entire career, Battlefield’s biggest winning margin was two lengths, achieved in the third start of his juvenile season; and before meeting Tom Fool, he had either won or finished second by a head or nose seven times. Perhaps the Hastings blood gave Battlefield the tenacity and grit he possessed on the racetrack. Any racer who encountered him had to be ready for a fight, because under no circumstances was Battlefield backing down. He did not win all of them but he often came very close and his rivals had to earn every speck of dirt to win.

Throwing it down

Eleven went to the post for the $50,000 added Grey Lag Handicap, in front of more than 37,000 spectators. Tom Fool, the favorite under 119 pounds, was sharp out of post ten, while Golden Gloves had early dash for a half-mile. As the frontrunner started to fade, Tom Fool went ahead into the far turn. Battlefield, carrying 118, with jockey Albert Schmidl in the irons, and out of post three, was close to the pace in third, before advancing on the final turn to engage Tom Fool, and both horses threw the gauntlet down. After fractions of  :23 1/5, :47 1/5, and a six furlong split in 1:11, the two dueled furiously in the stretch, screeching a mile in 1:35 4/5. When they were done exchanging blows, both still standing at the wire, the decision went to Tom Fool by a nose, in a stakes record time of 1:49 2/5, and with it a nice $42,200 paycheck. Battlefield received $10,000 for his gallant effort. Also of merit was Alerted, under the high weight of 121, who after being a half dozen lengths back at the half mile, roared home only a neck behind the runner-up, to the tune of $5,000. Just over a length back in fourth was the game five-year-old Oil Capitol, who was rewarded with $2,500.

De’ja’-vu

Two weeks later, 35,000 people came out to see Tom Fool and Battlefield go at it again in the Westchester, with a $56,400 purse. The two horses were among a field of nine, including Alerted and Oil Capitol. In the weight-for-age contest, Tom Fool, well over scale, and sharing actual high weight with Alerted of 125 pounds, broke from post three, while Battlefield, under 123, left post seven. Oil Capitol, coupled with Ruhe, got in with 112.

Off they went with Hull Down doing the early bidding, while maintaining his position around the clubhouse turn and into the back stretch. Tom Fool was next, near the rail, and Battlefield, under Schmidl, closely followed these two, while in a good spot on the outside. As they reached the far turn, Hull Down called it an afternoon, leaving Battlefield to assume responsibility. Tom Fool, still inside, was impeded, forcing Atkinson to check. As he turned into the stretch Atkinson steered him out on the track, giving him running room. Tom Fool moved steadily closer but the son of War Relic was just out of reach and hit the finish, a nose in front. Tom Fool, finishing second, was a length ahead of a contending Alerted, who was one and a quarter lengths to the good of Oil Capitol. After way station clockings of :24 1/5, :48 4/5, 1:13, and 1:37 4/5, the 1 1/8 mile affair stopped at 1:50 1/5. Battlefield earned $38,350, Tom Fool $10,000, Alerted $5,000, and Oil Capitol $2,500.

Tom Fool and Battlefield never met again. Battlefield returned in 1953, as a five-year-old, made seven starts, which included four handicaps, and never finished lower than third, while racing from six furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. In the three races he won, his longest winning margin was a neck. He finished second three times, falling short of the winner each time by a neck. He ended up third in the 1 ¼ mile Widener Handicap, when Oil Capitol won by a head over Alerted, who was a mere head in front of Battlefield.  Although he was never a genuine weight carrier by that era's standards, Battlefield did carry 126 pounds twelve times, with the lowest weights he was ever assigned, a 117 pound load in his second juvenile start, and the 118, when he first met Tom Fool. When Battlefield retired, he had a resume of 44 starts, 22 wins, 14 seconds, 2 thirds, and $474,727 in earnings. Battlefield was a warrior par excellence.

One more for the road

One week later, Tom Fool returned in the 1 3/16 mile Empire City Handicap, worth $55,700.  As the seeds of greatness were starting to sprout, the colt once again demonstrated what was inside him. Carrying 128 pounds, he gave seven other three-year-olds seven to twenty-three pounds.

Leaving post four, Tom Fool took command, and repelled a challenge by Armageddon around the first turn. He was then dogged by Marador, under 109, in the stretch. Marcador’s jockey, Headley Woodhouse, and Atkinson on Tom Fool urged their mounts on, and hitting the wire, it was Tom Fool prevailing by a head in a time of 1:58. He picked up $37, 650. Brookmeade stable’s brown Bull Lea colt, Roaring Bull, under 105, had stayed close to the pace but was no match for the first two, and finished third, two lengths behind Marcador.

Tom Fool had run his last race of 1952. For the year he had recorded thirteen starts, eight of these in stakes, for 6 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, and $157,850 in earnings to boast a two-year total of $313,810.  He returned to South Carolina for a winter break, with the tentative plan to begin his four-year-old campaign in April at Jamaica.

Closing in on greatness

Tom Fool had defeated older horses three times, while giving them weight on two occasions. He had shown strong character, resolve, and courage, despite being weakened by illness and missing America's biggest races; and as his season progressed, he gave signs of the greatness ready to surface. Had he been able to participate in the Triple Crown, it might have meant the difference between a truly stellar season and the season it actually was: a very good one, which showcased a superstar waiting to happen. As the son of Menow-Gaga departed for a long, deserved break, he did so without another championship. Instead, he saw One Count named Three-Year-Old Champion Male, and take a share of Horse of the Year (Daily Racing Form), along with the two-year-old sensation Native Dancer (Thoroughbred Racing Associations), who was also voted Two-Year-Old Champion Male.

If Tom Fool was not a great racehorse yet, he was as close as a horse could be without actually being one; but a new day and a different year were coming. In 1953, Tom Fool would conquer the racing world, and reach his place among the greats. 

To be continued…

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Copyright 2013 by John Califano

HANDICAP PERFECTION

The opening part of this expanded story, published on January 21, 2013, was later accidentally deleted. It is re-posted.

(This is the first of a five part series.)


Note to reader: The following was originally a one-part story, published on Gallop Out, on September 17, 2010; however, due to line spacing problems it was eventually deleted from the archive. The original text has been revised and expanded in what will be a multiple-part narrative. The title has also been changed. 

The year 2013 marks the sixtieth anniversary of this great horse's remarkable season, and a good time to commemorate his career.

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In 1953, on Thoroughbred racing's biggest stages, Pinza won the Epsom Derby, La Sorellina the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and Wodalla the Melbourne Cup. And in a seismic event that sent aftershocks rippling along fault lines of the American turf, Dark Star upset iconic Native Dancer by a head in the Kentucky Derby. Nicknamed the "Grey Ghost," Native Dancer's loving public mourned what would be his only defeat in a fabled twenty-two race career. The Dancer commanded national celebrity, a sterling reputation, and had no equal; with one exception. And this other colt was making a shambles of the older handicap division during one of the greatest campaigns in modern times. 

PART ONE: SEEDS OF GREATNESS

Roots

Bred in Kentucky by Duval Headley, the horse was sired by the dark bay Menow, out of the Bull Dog (Fr.) bay mare Gaga, and foaled in 1949, the year another Menow son, the duel classic winner Capot, would be voted Horse of the Year. Menow had been a two-year-old champion after a campaign that included wins in Belmont Park's 6 1/2 furlong Champagne Stakes and Futurity. The following season, Menow made his first three starts at Keeneland, with a win in a six furlong Starter Handicap, and two placings behind the future stallion sensation Bull Lea, a third in a 1 1/16 mile allowance, and a second in the 1 1/8 mile Blue Grass Stakes, when he fell a neck short. Menow finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and third in the Preakness Stakes before scoring wins in the one mile Withers and 1 1/8 mile Massachusetts Handicap. Menow's sire, Pharamond II (GB), was a half-brother to the great English champion and sire Hyperion (GB), also the broodmare sire of American immortal Citation.

Gaga was a modestly successful stakes placed racer from twenty-six starts before her stint as a leading broodmare. Through her sire, Bull Dog, Gaga was a product of the revered Teddy (Fr.) line, which would also produce the progeny leading to Sword Dancer, and the great Damascus.

The Menow-Gaga offspring, named Tom Fool, would develop into an attractive, sturdily built sixteen hand bay colt with a gentle and easy going disposition. Depending on the images examined, he appeared to have a left rear half pastern, and a right rear coronet, although in black-and-white photographs these markings are not as clearly evident. There were no markings on his face except for perhaps a vestige of a small star, which cannot be ascertained.

Supporting cast

Tom Fool was owned by John Hay Whitney and his sister, Mrs. Charles Payson, and the colt's racing career would be under their Greentree Stable colors. John Gaver conditioned Tom Fool, and the only jockey to sit on the horse's back was Ted Atkinson. Gaver was a graduate of Princeton University, and a teacher and athletic coach before embarking on a career as a trainer for Greentree. In 1942, Gaver conditioned Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Shut Out, in addition to Devil Diver, a co-Handicap Champion the same year, and outright champion in 1943. Later he conditioned the stable's Capot, who was ridden by Atkinson. Gaver would also train Three-Year-Old Male Champion Stage Door Johnny in 1968. In the mid-1960s the horseman made his way into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, nine years after Atkinson was inducted.

Off smartly

At Saratoga, in August 1951, Tom Fool won his first three starts, beginning as the favorite in a 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight against eleven other two-year-olds. Breaking from post eight, he steadily improved his situation, taking the lead a furlong out, before hitting the finish four lengths ahead in 1:06 2/5. Just one week later he leaped into the six furlong Sanford Stakes, among a field of eight. This time he kept close to the pace, eventually overtaking the Alfred G. Vanderbilt colt, First Refusal, in the final eighth and crossed the wire with a margin of two and a quarter lengths, in a time of 1:12 3/5. He contested the Grand Union Stakes on August 25 with a purse of $21,350, and faced a smaller field of four other runners; but three of them, Jet Master, Hannibal, and another Vanderbilt colt, Cousin, were already standouts and multiple stakes winners. Jet Master had posted six wins in eight starts and Cousin was on a five race win streak. Tom Fool was assigned 122 pounds, four less than Jet Master and Cousin, who were asked to carry the three-year-old classic weight of 126. He was again victorious after being put to the task in the turn, and with encouragement, prevailed at the finish by a length. Cousin, who stumbled out of the gate, arrived next followed by Jet Master. The winner covered the six panels in 1:11 4/5.

Hiccup

The young Tom Fool would make his fourth start in less than a month in Saratoga's 6 1/2 furlong Hopeful Stakes, on a track labeled "good". Hannibal, who finished fourth in the Grand Union, and Cousin returned. Six runners in post order were Paramount Pete, Tom Fool, Color Guard, coupled with Cousin, Thymus, Hannibal, and Tom Fool's stablemate, The Minor. Except for the 117 pounds assigned to Paramount Pete and Thymus, the other four would carry 122. The race offered a purse of $63,400, with the winner's share $52,200. Tom Fool was favored at less than even odds, but matters didn't go swimmingly.

Perhaps because his winning streak had been derailed, Cousin showed up in no mood for games, and ready to take somebody out. He started with his own people, and dropped rider Eric Guerin following the load. When they got off, Thymus took the early lead, and kept it to the far turn, followed closely by the other maiden, Paramount Pete. Cousin had started as the trailer, then moved into fifth after a quarter, and at six furlongs made his bid as Tom Fool took the lead entering the stretch. On the approach to home, Tom Fool stayed in front with Hannibal and Cousin advancing. Atkinson went to his whip but his mount couldn't hold off Cousin who sped past him and across the finish one and a quarter lengths ahead in 1:19 1/5. The slick track might have made all the difference, a condition which Tom Fool wasn't accustomed to, while the winner donned mud caulks. Tom Fool was only a neck in front of Hannibal who checked in third.

Not today either
On October 1, Tom Fool made his first appearance, and fifth start, at Belmont Park in a six furlong Special Weight, known as the Anticipation Purse, on the Widener course, in a field of sixteen juveniles. The Anticipation was a tune-up for Belmont's 6 1/2 furlong Futurity, over the course, six days later. Tom Fool was again the favorite with Cousin next. Also entered was a dark bay Calumet Farm son of Bull Lea, out of the Bleinheim II (GB) mare Jane Gail, name Hill Gail, a winner of his first three starts, including the Arlington Futurity.

When the gates opened, Tom Fool, in post three, was quickest to leave, but got bumped around as he sat in third. Cousin jumped straight up in the air, costing himself valuable ground and position. Hill Gail, in second, was moving well. At the half Hill Gail and Tom Fool remained unchanged behind the leader Baybrook, but in the stretch Hill Gail took first, with Baybrook second, and Tom Fool third. Hill Gail drew away, hitting the wire with four lengths to spare as Tom Fool got his neck in front of Baybrook for second. Cousin made a late charge but his deficit was too much to overcome, and was factored out in seventh. After a quarter in :22 3/5, and the half in :45, the winner's time was 1:09 2/5.

Futurity
The usual suspects showed up for the big one on October 6, and Hill Gail's newly minted reputation earned him favoritism. Jet Master, Cousin, and Tom Fool were next in line. The fourteen entries sweetened the pot to more than $115,000, but at post time the number had been reduced to ten. Tom Fool would try to get back on the beam by duplicating the success of his sire fourteen years earlier. 

Leaving stall seven, Tom Fool broke alertly, and secured a solid position in fourth as Jet Master began the proceedings, covering the quarter in :22 1/5, and a half in :45 1/5. Three quarters were clipped in 1:10 1/5, and Tom Fool, under considerable punishment by Atkinson, charged past Jet Master a furlong out, and headed for home commandingly, capturing the 6 1/2 furlong race in 1:17 1/5. Primate, who broke last, ran with stout determination, making up most of the ground, and finished second, a length in front of Jet's Date. Hill Gail didn't get off well, but eventually found his stride, and arrived fourth. The winner collected $86,710 of the $111,410 purse.

Test of character
Tom Fool made one more start in 1951, at Jamaica on October 24, and for the first time would travel beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, in the 1 1/16 mile East View Stakes worth $53,400. The bettors pounded him, yet one of his two previous losses had been over a "good" track, and now he would run on a surface made sloppy by rain. It would be the toughest test yet of his young career.

The margin between the eventual top four was barely more than a length, with the first three in a photo. Tom Fool broke from post four and after a half mile was almost a half dozen lengths behind the leader, Mr. Turf. The Menow colt began making headway into the far turn, and with courage split horses in the stretch, and persevered to the wire, a neck ahead of Put Out, who in turn was a neck in front of  Risque Rouge. Tom Fool, prevailing on his character and class, finished in a time of 1:45 1/5, and put $35,225 into his bank account.

Champion
The Greentree Stable colt was scheduled to run in the 1 1/16 mile Pimlico Futurity on November 2, but with a wet track he was scratched and put away for the year. The defection would not compromise his chance for a divisional championship. After concluding his juvenile season with five wins and two seconds in seven starts, and earnings of $155,960, Tom Fool was named Two-Year-Old Male Champion for 1951. 

Mapped out on Tom Fool's three-year-old itinerary were the Triple Crown races; however, as circumstances sometimes dictate, his campaign would require an adjustment, and the eventual date with his destiny postponed.

To be continued...

Bibliography

Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds. Revised Edition. Champions from 1893-2004 (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005), p.63.

"Tom Fool," Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/tom+fool

"Tom Fool," equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=511385&registry=T&horse_name=Tom Fool&dam_name=Gaga&foaling_year=1949&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Richard Stones Reeves; Edward L. Bowen, Belmont Park: A Century of Champions (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2005), p. 54.

Audrey Pavia; Janice Posnikoff, DVM, Horses For Dummies, (Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2005), p. 25.

"John M. Gaver, Sr.," Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Gaver,_Sr.

"John M. Gaver, Sr.," National Museum of Racing And Hall Of Fame, Hall Of Fame, Trainers, http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/horse-trainers-view.asp?varID=17

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009 (Lexington, KY: Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008), pp. 154, 176.

Daily Racing Form, Champions, pp. 82, 91, 95-96.

"Ted Atkinson," National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame, Hall Of Fame, Jockeys, http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/horse-jockeys-view.asp?varID=5

Daily Racing Form, Champions, pp. 173-174.

James Roach, "Tom Fool and Southarlington Win Sprints at Spa; Greentree's Colt Triumphs In Debut," The New York Times, August 14, 1951, p. 30, col. 1.

James Roach, "Greentree's Tom Fool Triumphs Again at Spa; 9-10 Favorite First In Sanford Stakes," The New York Times, August 21, 1951, p. 42.

James Roach, "Tom Fool, Jet Master and Cousin Head Field of Seven in the Grand Union," The New York Times, August 25, 1951, p. 16, col. 1. 

James Roach, "Colt's 3D In Row; Tom Fool Beats Cousin, Jet Master in Grand Union Stakes," The New York Times, August 26, 1951, p. 1, col. 5, p. 4, col. 4.

Triangle Publications, Inc. (Daily Racing Form), "Saratoga Racing Chart, 'Fourth Race,'" The New York Times, August 26, 1951 p. 4, col 2-3.

James Roach, "Tom Fool Heads Field in Hopeful Stakes as Saratoga Meeting Closes Today," The New York Times, September 1, 1951, p. 16, col. 1.

James Roach, "Cousin Wins Hopeful; Tom Fool Second," The New York Times, September 2, 1951, p. 1, p. 4, col. 2.

Joseph C. Nichols, "Hill Gail Defeats Favored Tom Fool in Sprint at Belmont; $13.50-For-$2 Shot Wins By 4 Lengths," The New York Times, October 2, 1951, p. 36.

Joseph C. Nichols, "Hill Gail Favorite In Sprint Fixture; Tom Fool and Cousin Rate Highly in 62d Running of Rich Futurity Today," The New York Times, October 6, 1951, p. 27, col. 1.

James Roach, "Tom Fool, $13.50, Captures $111,410 Belmont Futurity," The New York Times, October 7, 1951, p. 1, p. 8, col. 2.

James Roach, "Tom Fool Takes $53,400 East View Stakes at Jamaica; The Top Ranking 2-Year-Old in Triumph Yesterday," The New York Times, October 25, 1951, p. 39.

A.P., "Tom Fool Heads 9 In Futurity Today," The New York Times, November 2, 1951.

A.P., "Cajun Captures Pimlico Futurity," The New York Times, November 3, 1951.

Copyright 2013 by John Califano

A SONG FOR DAMASCUS

(This is the final part of a six part series.)   

For a closer look at the career of Damascus, this writer once again recommends Lucy Heckman’s Damascus in the Thoroughbred Legends series (Eclipse Press, 2004). To get another perspective on the rivalry of Damascus and Dr. Fager, Steve Haskin’s Dr. Fager, in the same series (Eclipse Press, 2000), is also recommended.

The stud career of Damascus was prolific, and a detailed discussion is far beyond the scope of this blog. Only a limited number of his progeny are mentioned below. A more detailed account will be found in Heckman’s book.

PART SIX: AN ENDURING LEGACY

When Damascus arrived at A.B. Hancock’s Claiborne Farm, he would join a group of racing greats and standout stallions, including Buckpasser.

Damascus was syndicated for more than $2.5 million, comprised of 32 shares of $80,000 each. Several notable industry figures were shareholders, including Mrs. Edith Bancroft, the colt’s owner, who retained six shares.

The Sire

Damascus became an excellent sire, producing 71 stakes winners, including the following:

Honorable Miss – bay filly, b.1970

Honorable Miss, by Damascus, out of the Royal Vale (GB) stakes placed mare Court Circuit, made 62 starts in her career, and became a multiple stakes winner, among her victories the Fall Highweight Handicap twice over males, carrying 133 and 130 pounds in 1975 and 1976 respectively.

Bailjumper – bay colt, b.1974

Damascus, bred back to Court Circuit, produced Bailjumper. A five generation outcross, Bailjumper won the 1 1/8 mile Dwyer Handicap and one mile Saranac Stakes. Bailjumper later sired 16 stakes winners, including the bay colt Skip Trial, out of the Diplomat Way mare Ingot Way. Skip Trial was a multiple stakes winner, counting among his victories the 1 1/8 mile Haskell Invitational, Ohio and Pennsylvania Derbies at age three, duel victories in the 1 ¼ mile Gulfstream Park Handicap, at ages four and five, and placings in the Travers Stakes and two Donn Handicaps.  As a stallion, Skip Trial sired 26 stakes winners, including his greatest offspring, the Florida-bred Breeders’ Cup Classic winner and Horse of the Year Skip Away, whose career earnings were over $9,600,000.

A daughter of Bailjumper, the bay filly Cappucino Bay (b.1989), was a black-type winner from 24 starts. Cappucino Bay was bred to El Prado (Ire.), and from that cover, in April 1999, a dark bay/brown colt was foaled and given the name Medaglia d’Oro.

Damascus’ descendent, Medaglia d’Oro, a five generation outcross, was an exceptional racehorse. As a three-year-old, Medalgia d’Oro won the Travers Stakes, Jim Dandy, and San Felipe Stakes. At age four he captured the Strub Stakes, Oaklawn and Whitney Handicaps, and the following year the Donn Handicap. A horse with good stamina, Medaglia d’Oro counted among his second place efforts the Belmont Stakes, Pacific Classic, two Breeders’ Cup Classics, and the Dubai World Cup.

Medaglia d’Oro continues to excel as a stallion, with more than 30 stakes winners already to his credit, among them Champagne d’Oro, Gabby’s Golden Gal, and C.S. Silk, et al.

One of the mares Medaliga d’Oro was bred to was the lightly raced bay mare Lotta Kim, and in 2006 a dark bay/brown filly was born and given the name Rachel Alexandra, who became the super filly, divisional champion, three-time grade one conqueror of males, including older males, Horse of the Year, and one of the greatest American female racers of all time.

Private Account – bay colt, b.1976

Damascus was bred to the exceptional racer and Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Female Numbered Account, by Buckpasser, out of the Swaps mare Intriguing. In addition to her illustrious sire and damsire, Numbered Account had incredible inbreeding, 3Sx4Dx5D to War Admiral, 4Sx5D to the phenomenal mare La Troienne (Fr.), 5Sx5D Selene (GB), and like Damascus, had strong blood ties to Teddy (Fr.), with her line 5Sx5S. Throughout her five generations are champions. The chances of producing an exceptional offspring were excellent, and one result was Private Account.

The bay colt, Private Account, was foaled in 1976, and became a multiple stakes winner, annexing the 1 1/8 mile Jim Dandy Stakes, then at age four, the 1 ¼ mile Gulfstream Park and Widener Handicaps. As a stallion, Private Account did even better, becoming the sire of 61 stakes winners, with his notable progeny excelling in America and overseas, including Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner and Eclipse Champion Older Female Inside Information. Undoubtedly the best offspring of Private Account was the great champion filly Personal Ensign, who electrified the racing world with her come-from-behind victory over Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, to close out an undefeated career.

Highland Blade – dark bay/brown colt, b.1978

Highland Blade was the result of a mating between Damascus and the gray black-type winner Misty Byrn by Misty Flight. Highland Blade would go on to win the 1 ½ mile Pan American Handicap on the turf, and 1 ½ mile Brooklyn Handicap. He also won the 1 ¼ mile Marlboro Cup Handicap, defeating the eventual two-time Eclipse champion Slew o’Gold.

Desert Wine – bay colt, b.1980

Damascus’ son, Desert Wine, was out of the Never Bend mare Anne Campbell. At age two, Desert Wine won the six furlong Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes, and at three, the one mile San Rafael. He was elevated to first in the 1 1/16 mile San Felipe Handicap, with the disqualification of Naevus, who was dropped to second. Desert Wine also finished second in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Jerome Handicap. As a four-year-old, the colt captured the 1 ¼ mile Strub Stakes and Hollywood Gold Cup.

Time for a Change – chestnut colt, b.1981

Damascus met the stakes winning mare Resolver, who was sired by Reviewer, the same stallion, who in the 1970s, produced the legendary filly Ruffian. From Damascus’ cover, Time for a Change was foaled. Three years later, Time for a Change won the 1 1/8 mile Everglades Stakes and defeated the juvenile champion Devil’s Bag in the 1 1/8 mile Flamingo Stakes, coming within a few fifths of the track record.

Time for a Change’s career was brief but he later sired the multiple stakes winner and Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Male Fly So Free, who won in succession the Champagne Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Hutcheson Stakes, Fountain of Youth and Florida Derby, until his streak was snapped with a second place effort in the Blue Grass Stakes.  Fly So Free apparently inherited his grandsire’s weight carrying ability, and toward the end of his career, won the six furlong Fall Highweight Handicap under 135 pounds.

Ogygian – bay colt, b.1983

Damascus, bred to the Francis S., mare Gonfalon, produced the Florida-bred Ogygian, a multiple grade 1 winner from ten starts. His victories included the seven furlong Futurity, and at age three the 1 1/16 mile Dwyer, one mile Jerome Handicap, and Riva Ridge Stakes. As a stallion, Ogygian sired 23 stakes winners, including  the Pat O’Brien and Palos Verdes Handicap winner D’Hallevant, Withers Stakes victor Dice Dancer, and Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes winner Ramblin Guy. Ogygian was the broodmare sire of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Eclipse Two-Year-Old Champion Male Johannesburg, and grade one winner Street Boss.

The Broodmare Sire

Approximately 155 stakes winners were foaled through the daughters of Damascus. Four will be mentioned here.

Shadeed – bay colt, b.1982

Sired by English Triple Crown winner Nijinsky II, out of the Damascus mare Continual, Shadeed, an English champion, won only four of seven starts, but among these wins were the Two Thousand Guineas and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. He also finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1985, and eventually became a sire of champions.

Boundary – bay colt, b.1990

Boundary, by the legendary sire Danzig, out of the stakes winning mare Edge, by Damascus, was a stakes winning or placed racer from eight starts. Boundary would later be bred to the mare Mien and in 2005 a bay colt was foaled and given the name Big Brown, who excelled on turf and dirt, and became a Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes winner, and Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Male.

Big Brown is inbred to Damascus 3Sx4D. In addition to the Damascus relation through Boundary, Big Brown is a tail-female descendent of Damascus through his third dam, Syrian Circle. Retired and standing at Three Chimneys Farm, Big Brown’s first crop of two-year-olds began racing in 2012, among them stakes winner Brown Almighty.

Coronado’s Quest – chestnut colt, b.1995

The son of champion Forty Niner, out of the unraced mare Laughing Look, by Damascus, Coronado’s Quest was a multiple stakes winner, among his wins the Remsen, Cowdin, Nashua Stakes, Wood Memorial, Haskell Invitational, Riva Ridge and Travers Stakes, and Dwyer Handicap. Coronado’s Quest later became a stallion in Japan, until his death. Among his offspring was the excellent bay Society Selection, a multiple stakes winning or placed filly and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Chilukki – bay filly, b.1997

The brilliant racer Chilukki, by champion Cherokee Run, out of the Damascus mare Song of Syria, won her first six races, including a decisive win over males in her second juvenile start, the 5 ½ furlong Kentucky Breeders’ Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs. Chilukki’s streak was finally snapped when she finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Named Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, Chulukki raced for two more campaigns, earning just over $1.2 million.

A full life

With age and gradual infertility, Damascus was eventually pensioned to live out his days at Claiborne. He had been blessed with racing success, fame, wonderful offspring, and a long, comfortable life. That storied life finally reached its end peacefully in 1995, when the grand horse was thirty-one years old.

Damascus was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1974, joining his illustrious archrival Dr. Fager, already inducted in 1971, and the great Buckpasser, an inductee in 1970.

In tribute

This narrative has been a tribute, in the form of one blogger’s voice singing the praises of the great champion, who was called Damascus. With the aid of many outside sources, the song developed its own unique lyric, as an expression of the writer’s tender affection for an extraordinary horse, and a reaffirmation of a remarkable story. It is hoped that the spirit of Damascus is pleased.

Bibliography

Lucy Heckman, Damascus, Thoroughbred Legends No.22 (Lexington, KY: Eclipse Press, 2004), pp. 132-133.

A.P., “Damascus Syndicated For $2.5 Million,” The Morning Record, November 23, 1968, p. 9, col. 3.

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009 (Lexington, KY: Thoroughbred Times Books, 2008), p. 78.

“Honorable Miss,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=218551&registry=T&horse_name=Honorable Miss&dam_name=Court Circuit&foaling_year=1970&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Honorable Miss,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/honorable+miss

Daily Racing Form, The American Racing Manual 1992 (Hightstown, N.J.: Daily Racing Form Inc., 1992), p. 773.

“Bailjumper,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/bailjumper

“Bailjumper,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=595116&registry=T&horse_name=Bailjumper&dam_name=Court Circuit&foaling_year=1974&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Skip Trial,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/skip+trial

“Skip Trial,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=895467&registry=T&horse_name=Skip Trial&dam_name=Looks Promising&foaling_year=1982&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 308, 337, 340, 407, 413, 478.

“Cappucino Bay,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=1232794&registry=T&horse_name=Cappucino Bay&dam_name=Dubbed In&foaling_year=1989&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Cappucino Bay,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/cappucino+bay

“Medaglia d’Oro,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=4823628&registry=T&horse_name=Medaglia d'Oro&dam_name=Cappucino Bay&foaling_year=1999&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Medaglia d’Oro,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/medaglia+doro

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 196, 308, 358, 403, 436, 466, 477.

“Medaglia d’Oro,” The Blood-Horse, Stallion Register For 2011 (Lexington, KY: Blood-Horse Publications, 2010).

“Lotta Kim,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/lotta+kim

“Lotta Kim,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=6159074&registry=T&horse_name=Lotta Kim&dam_name=Kim's Blues&foaling_year=2001&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Rachel Alexandra,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=7822158&registry=T&horse_name=Rachel Alexandra&dam_name=Lotta Kim&foaling_year=2006&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Numbered Account,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/numbered+account

“Numbered Account,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=354188&registry=T&horse_name=Numbered Account&dam_name=Intriguing&foaling_year=1969&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, p. 96.

“Private Account,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/private+account

“Private Account,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=663377&registry=T&horse_name=Private Account&dam_name=Numbered Account&foaling_year=1976&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 82, 337, 359.

Daily Racing Form, The American Racing Manual 1992, p. 1056.

“Private Account, Personal Ensign’s Sire Dead,” BloodHorse.com, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/25596/private-account-personal-ensigns-sire-dead

“Highland Blade,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=725822&registry=T&horse_name=Highland Blade&dam_name=Misty Bryn&foaling_year=1978&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

“Highland Blade,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/highland+blade

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 278, 411.

A.P., “Highland Blade Wins Marlboro Cup,” Ocala Star-Banner, September 25, 1983, p. 3C.

“Desert Wine,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/desert+wine

“Desert Wine,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=793430&registry=T&horse_name=Desert Wine&dam_name=Anne Campbell&foaling_year=1980&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 345, 466.

“Time for a Change,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/time+for+a+change

“Time for a Change,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=830754&registry=T&horse_name=Time for a Change&dam_name=Resolver&foaling_year=1981&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Daily Racing Form, The American Racing Manual 1992, p. 770.

U.P.I., “Time For A Change blasts to Flamingo Stakes victory,” The Mohave Daily Miner, March 4, 1984, p. A-9.

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, p. 95.

Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Past Performances of America’s Greatest Thoroughbreds, Revised Edition, Champions from 1893-2004 (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005), pp. 368, 384,

“Ogygian,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/ogygian

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 328, 358.

“Old Friends Buys Japanese Stallion Ogygian,” BloodHorse.com, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/28921/old-friends-buys-japanese-stallion-ogygian

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 410, 412.

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc. The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, p. 78.

Heckman, Damascus, p. 141.

“Shadeed, English Champion, Dead,” BloodHorse.com, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/31063/shadeed-english-champion-dead

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, p. 210.

“Boundary,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/boundary2

“Edge,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/edge

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 313, 476, 480.

“Big Brown,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=7453661&registry=T&horse_name=Big Brown&dam_name=Mien&foaling_year=2005&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Claire Novak, “Big Brown Colt Archer Hill Tops Summer Stakes,” BloodHorse.com, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/72788/big-brown-colt-archer-hill-tops-summer-stakes

“Coronado’s Quest,” Pedigree Online Thoroughbred Database, http://www.pedigreequery.com/coronados+quest

“Coronado’s Quest,” equineline.com, http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=4013090&registry=T&horse_name=Coronado's Quest&dam_name=Laughing Look&foaling_year=1995&nicking_stats_indicator=Y

Thoroughbred Times Co., Inc., The Original Thoroughbred Times Racing Almanac 2009, pp. 309, 339, 398, 427, 478, 493.

“Former American Stallion Coronado’s Quest Dies in Japan,” BloodHorse.com, http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/32498/former-american-stallion-coronados-quest-dies-in-japan

Daily Racing Form, Champions, pp. 368, 378.

Heckman, Damascus, pp. 144-145.

“Hall Of Fame, Thoroughbred Race Horses,” National Museum Of Racing And Hall Of Fame, http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall-of-fame/Horses.asp?varsort=name

Copyright 2012 by John Califano