Biography

Bred and owned by Fred W. Hooper, Precisionist was a versatile campaigner, blessed with the speed of a sprinter and the ability to handle longer distances. Named the Eclipse Award winner for Champion Sprinter in 1985, Precisionist won a total of 13 graded stakes, including six Grade 1 events.

Precisionist came into his own as a 3-year-old in 1984, winning the San Miguel, San Rafael, Swaps, and Malibu stakes, as well as the Del Mar Invitational Handicap. He was even better the following year, eclipsing $1 million in seasonal earnings with wins in the San Fernando Stakes, Strub Stakes, Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, and Breeders’ Cup Sprint (earning a 125 Beyer Speed Figure). He also finished second in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Californian Stakes, and San Bernardino Handicap. By winning the Malibu, San Fernando, and Strub, Precisionist became only the fifth horse to win Santa Anita’s “Strub Series,” joining Round Table, Hillsdale, Ancient Title, and Spectacular Bid.

As a 5-year-old in 1986, Precisionist again surpassed $1 million in seasonal earnings via wins in the San Pasqual Handicap, San Bernardino Handicap, Californian Stakes, and Woodward Stakes (defeating Horse of the Year Lady's Secret and earning a 128 Beyer Speed Figure). He also finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

A cannon bone injury forced Precisionist’s retirement prior to a planned 1987 campaign, but he proved infertile for stallion duty — siring only four foals — and was slowly brought on a path back to the races. Returning as a 7-year-old in 1988 after 20 months away from the races, Precisionist won the Cabrillo Handicap and Budweiser Breeders’ Cup Handicap and finished second in both the Citation and Native Diver handicaps. He also set a track record at Del Mar for one mile in an allowance win at 1:33⅕.

Precisionist was retired for good following his 1988 campaign with a career record of 20-10-4 from 46 starts and earnings of $3,485,398. He spent his retirement at a farm in Ocala, Florida, and at Old Friends in Georgetown, Kentucky. He died at Old Friends at the age of 25 on Sept. 27, 2006. Precisionist was buried at the cemetery at Old Friends.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter — 1985

Breeders' Cup highlights

Won the Sprint — 1985

Notable

Won the Hoist the Flag Stakes — 1983
Won the Del Mar Invitational Handicap — 1984
Won the Malibu Stakes — 1984
Won the San Miguel Stakes — 1984
Won the San Rafael Stakes — 1984
Won the Swaps Stakes — 1984
Won the Charles H. Strub Stakes — 1985
Won the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap — 1985
Won the San Fernando Stakes — 1985
Won the Californian Stakes — 1986
Won the San Bernardino Handicap — 1986
Won the San Pasqual Handicap — 1986
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1986
Won the Yankee Valor Handicap — 1986
Won the Cabrillo Handicap — 1988
Won the Del Mar Breeders’ Cup Handicap — 1988

Horse Profile for Precisionist | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Dance Smartly was the second filly to win the Canadian Triple Crown and the first Canadian-bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race. A bay daughter of Danzig out of the Smarten mare Classy ’N Smart, Dance Smartly was bred in Ontario by Ernie Samuel’s Sam-Son Farm and trained by James E. Day.

“She was one of the best and probably the most versatile horses in Canadian racing history,” Day said.

Dance Smartly was a Canadian champion when she won three of five starts as a 2-year-old in 1990, including the Natalma Stakes, before her undefeated 3-year-old campaign in 1991.

With Hall of Fame Pat Day as her jockey, Dance Smartly won the Queen’s Plate by eight lengths on dirt, the Prince of Wales Stakes by two lengths, and the 1½-mile Breeders’ Stakes on grass by eight lengths. It was the first time since Queensway in 1932 that a filly won the Canadian Triple Crown.

Dance Smartly added victories in the Canadian Oaks and Molson Export Million that year and concluded her season by winning the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs (defeating older champion Queena, as well as Versailles Treaty and Brought to Mind). As a result of winning all eight of her starts in 1991, Dance Smartly won two Sovereign awards, including Canada’s Horse of the Year, as well as the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

As a 4-year-old in 1992, Dance Smartly won the Canadian Maturity, again defeating males, before being retired with a career record of 12-2-3 from 17 starts and earnings of $3,263,835, a record for a filly or mare at the time.

Dance Smartly died Aug. 17, 2007, at the age of 19 at Sam-Son Farm. 

Achievements

Sovereign Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly (Canada) — 1990
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1991
Sovereign Award Horse of the Year (Canada) — 1991
Sovereign Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly (Canada) — 1991

Canadian Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Queen’s Plate — 1991
Won the Prince of Wales Stakes — 1991
Won the Breeders’ Stakes — 1991

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Distaff — 1991

Notable

Won the Natalma Stakes — 1990
Won the Canadian Oaks — 1991
Won the Molson Export Million Stakes — 1991
Won the Selene Stakes — 1991
Won the Star Shoot Stakes — 1991
Won the Canadian Maturity Stakes — 1992

Horse Profile for Dance Smartly | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Named after a navigational intersection for airplanes by aerospace magnate Allen Paulson, Cigar was foaled at Country Life Farm near Bel Air, Maryland. After enjoying modest success early in his career, Cigar won back-to-back Horse of the Year awards, compiled a 16-race win streak, and retired with the all-time record for purse earnings in North America.

Arriving at the races in 1993 as a 3-year-old with trainer Alex Hassinger, Jr., Cigar broke his maiden in his second career start at Hollywood Park. His other accomplishments that year were minor, as he finished second in the Grade 3 Volante Handicap at Santa Anita and third in the Grade 3 Ascot Handicap at Bay Meadows. He finished 11th in his final start of the year, the Hollywood Derby.

Sent to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and shipped to the East Coast as a 4-year-old, Cigar did not finish better than third in his first four starts. However, he won an allowance race at Aqueduct in late October of 1994 by eight lengths that began a remarkable stretch of almost two years during which Cigar was unbeatable.

Cigar’s first breakthrough victory was in the 1994 NYRA Mile, a Grade 1 event. With Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey in the irons, Cigar drew off to defeat Devil His Due by seven lengths. It was Cigar’s final start of the year and the beginning of a remarkable journey.

In 1995, at age 5, Cigar won all 10 of his starts and earned $4,819,800. He won eight Grade 1 races year: the Donn Handicap, Gulfstream Park Handicap, Oaklawn Handicap, Pimlico Special Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. The undefeated season also included a win in the Massachusetts Handicap and an allowance score at Gulfstream. Cigar set a stakes record with his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, coving 1¼ miles at Belmont Park in 1:59.58.  

Returning as a 6-year-old, Cigar repeated in the Donn Handicap before traveling overseas to win the inaugural Dubai World Cup. He then returned to America to repeat in the Massachusetts Handicap before a record crowd at Suffolk Downs to stretch his win streak to 15.

Next up, Arlington Park carded a special race, the Arlington Citation Challenge Invitational, for Cigar to attempt to match the modern-day win streak of 16 set by Triple Crown winner Citation. Carrying 130 pounds, Cigar pulled away for his 16th consecutive win. In the process, he raised his season earnings to $4,578,454 to surpass Alysheba’s all-time record for a single season.

A record crowd of more than 40,000 showed up at Del Mar a month later as Cigar looked to break Citation’s record in the Pacific Classic, but Dare and Go passed Cigar in the stretch to win at odds of almost 40-1. Cigar bounced back to win the Woodward Stakes in his next start before finishing second in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and third in his final career start, the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Woodbine.  

Cigar was retired with a career record of 19-4-5 from 33 starts and record career earnings of $9,999,815, which was not surpassed until Curlin topped $10 million in 2008.

Cigar proved infertile as a stallion and lived out the remainder of his retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions. He died Oct. 7, 2014, at the age of 24.

“He was the best of his generation and certainly the best horse I ever rode,” Bailey said. 

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1995
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1995
Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1996
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 1996    

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Classic — 1995

Notable

Won the Donn Handicap — 1995, 1996
Won the Massachusetts Handicap — 1995, 1996
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1995, 1996
Won the NYRA Mile Handicap — 1994
Won the Gulfstream Park Handicap — 1995
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1995
Won the Jockey Club Gold Cup — 1995
Won the Oaklawn Handicap — 1995
Won the Pimlico Special Handicap — 1995
Won the Arlington Citation Challenge Invitational Stakes — 1996
Won the Dubai World Cup — 1996

Horse Profile for Cigar | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

A winner of 17 graded stakes and the 1995 Eclipse Award winner for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, Serena’s Song was bred in Kentucky by Dr. Howard Baker and purchased for $150,000 as a yearling Bob and Beverly Lewis.

Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Serena’s Song broke her maiden in her third career start on June 25, 1994, at Hollywood Park. She won the Grade 2 Landaluce Stakes in her subsequent start and earned her first Garde 1 that October in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita.

Shipped to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup, Serena’s Song delivered an outstanding effort, but she lost by a head to the undefeated Flanders in the Juvenile Fillies. In her final start of the year, Serena’s Song collected her second Grade 1 of the campaign in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes.

Serena’s Song became a true standout as a sophomore in 1995. She began the year with five consecutive victories: the Santa Ynez Breeders’ Cup Stakes (Grade 3), Las Virgenes Stakes (Grade 1), Santa Anita Oaks (Grade 1), and Jim Beam Stakes (Grade 2). Her victory over colts in the Jim Beam prompted Lukas to give Serena’s Song a shot at the Kentucky Derby, but she finished 16th.

Serena’s Song quickly rebounded from the Derby, winning the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (Grade 2), Mother Goose Stakes (Grade 1), Haskell Invitational (Grade 1), Gazelle Handicap (Grade 1), and Beldame Stakes (Grade 1). With her eight grade stakes wins, Serena’s Song was voted Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

As a 4-year-old in 1996, Serena’s Song once again thrived against top competition. She began the year with back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Santa Monica and Santa Maria handicaps and later added wins in the Pimlico Distaff Handicap (Grade 3), Fleur de Lis Handicap (Grade 3), and Hempstead Handicap (Grade 1). Serena's Song was retired after finishing second in her final four races, all of which were graded events, including the Whitney and Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Serena’s Song retired with a record of 18-11-3 from 38 starts. Eleven of her 17 graded wins were Grade 1s and her earnings of $3,283,388 were a record for an American filly or mare at the time.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1995

Notable

Won the Hollywood Starlet Stakes — 1994
Won the Landaluce Stakes — 1994
Won the Oak Leaf Stakes — 1994
Won the Beldame Stakes — 1995
Won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes — 1995
Won the Gazelle Handicap — 1995
Won the Haskell Invitational Handicap — 1995
Won the Jim Beam Stakes — 1995
Won the Las Virgenes Stakes — 1995
Won the Mother Goose Stakes — 1995
Won the Santa Anita Oaks — 1995
Won the Santa Ynez Breeders’ Cup Stakes — 1995
Won the Fleur de Lis Handicap — 1996
Won the Hempstead Handicap — 1996
Won the Pimlico Distaff Handicap — 1996
Won the Santa Maria Handicap — 1996
Won the Santa Monica Handicap — 1996

Horse Profile for Serena's Song | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Noor’s eventual greatness on the racetrack was anything but predictable, as he hardly seemed destined to become an elite racehorse while competing without distinction for the Aga Khan in England early in his career.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Noor was breaking records and defeating the best of the best in America. In 1950, as a 5-year-old, Noor set two world records, an American record, three other track records, and defeated Triple Crown winner Citation in four consecutive meetings. In the process, Noor won the Hollywood Gold Cup, Santa Anita Handicap, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Forty-Niners Handicap, and American Handicap to be selected Champion Handicap Horse.

An Irish-bred son of Nasrullah out of the Bahram mare Queen of Baghdad, Noor won four of 13 starts at ages 2 and 3 while racing in England. He finished third in both the Epsom Derby and Eclipse Stakes, but was considered an afterthought in a sale the Aga Khan made with California horseman Charles S. Howard, most prominently known in racing circles as the owner of Seabiscuit. At first, Howard considered Irish Derby winner Nathoo to be the prize of his deal with the Aga Khan, but Noor went on to prove otherwise — eventually.

Noor was shipped to Northern California in the fall of 1948, but he did not make his first start in America until late 1949. Noor made six starts that year as a 4-year-old, winning a $3,000 allowance race in his American debut before six straight defeats.

Noor, under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Burley Parke, was a different horse in 1950. He began his campaign by finishing second in the San Pasqual Handicap, then finished third behind the Calumet Farm duo of Ponder and Citation in the San Antonio Handicap. Noor then put together a remarkable five-race win streak. He defeated Citation by 1¼ lengths in the Santa Anita Handicap before setting an American record of 2:52⅘ for 1¾ miles in the San Juan Capistrano Handicap (defeating Citation by a nose). Although he received weight both times, Noor became the first horse to win the Santa Anita and San Juan Capistrano handicaps in the same year and the first horse to defeat Citation twice.

Shipping up to Northern California at Golden Gate Fields, Noor defeated Citation twice more, winning the Forty-Niners Handicap with a five-pound weight advantage then taking the Golden Gate Handicap, spotting Citation a pound in that contest. In both races, Noor set world records: 1:46⅘ for 1⅛ in the Forty-Niners and 1:58⅕ for 1¼ miles in the Golden Gate.   

Noor then carried 132 pounds to victory in the American Handicap at Hollywood Park before being sent to the East Coast. The trip was a frustrating one. Noor finished second to Greentree Stable’s One Hitter in both the Harmonicon and Manhattan handicaps at Belmont. One Hitter was in receipt of 21 pounds in the first meeting and 18 in the second. Noor then was four lengths back of Hill Prince in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Returning to California, Noor won a prep at Hollywood Park then set a track record of 1:59⅘ for 1¼ miles in his final career start in the Hollywood Gold Cup. On equal weight with Hill Prince in the Gold Cup (both carried 130 pounds), Noor won by a length over Palestinian, with Hill Prince finishing third. Noor finished the year with a record of 7-4-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $346,940. He was retired after the season with a career mark of 12-6-6 from 31 starts and earnings of $383,968.

Noor stood at Loma Rica Ranch near San Ysidro, California, but he was not much of a success as a stallion, siring only 13 stakes winners. Suffering from heart problems and other infirmities of old age, Noor was euthanized on Nov. 16, 1974, at the age of 29. He was originally buried in California, but in 2011 his remains were moved to Old Friends near Georgetown, Kentucky, because of development on his original burial site.

Achievements

Champion Handicap Male — 1950

Notable

Won the Bradgate Park Nursery Handicap — 1947
Won the Bretby Nursery Handicap — 1947
Won the Diomed Stakes — 1948
Won the Great Foal Stakes — 1948
Won the American Handicap — 1950
Won the Forty-Niners Handicap — 1950
Won the Golden Gate Handicap — 1950
Won the Hollywood Gold Cup — 1950
Won the San Juan Capistrano Handicap — 1950
Won the Santa Anita Handicap — 1950

Horse Profile for Noor | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Regarded as the top 2-year-old filly of 1908 and the best 3-year-old filly in 1909, Maskette never lost a race against her own gender.

Bred in Kentucky by James R. Keene at his Castleton Farm, Maskette was a brown daughter of Disguise out of the Hamburg mare Biturica. Trained by Hall of Famer James Rowe, Sr., Maskette broke her maiden in her career debut at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 3, 1908. Two days later, she set a Saratoga track record in the Spinaway Stakes, covering the 5½ furlongs in 1:05⅘.

Maskette stretched her win streak to four with victories in the Futurity and Great Filly Stakes at Sheepshead Bay. In the Great Filly Stakes, she carried high weight of 127 pounds to victory. Maskette suffered her first career defeat in her next race, finishing second to Sir Martin in the Flatbush Stakes, before closing out her juvenile campaign with a victory in the Matron Stakes.

As a 3-year-old, Maskette won her first five starts. The wins included the Ladies, Gazelle, Mermaid, and Alabama against fillies, and the Pierrepont Handicap, in which she defeated males. In her final start of the year, Maskette finished second by a nose to 4-year-old Firestone in the Aqueduct Handicap, while giving the winner 13 pounds.

At 4, Maskette won a pair of handicap races, giving 17 pounds to Dalmatian, that season’s co-champion 3-year-old male, in one of them. She also finished a close second to 1909 champion older male King James in the Sheepshead Bay Handicap. After finishing fifth in the Delaware Handicap at Saratoga in August, Maskette was retired with a career record of 12-3-0 from 17 starts and earnings of $77,090.

Retired to Castleton Farm for broodmare duty, Maskette was later sold to William K. Vanderbilt, who shipped her to his Haras du Quesnay farm near Deauville in France. Maskette produced four stakes winners there before her death at the age of 24 in 1930.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1908
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1909

Notable

Won the Futurity Stakes — 1908
Won the Great Filly Stakes — 1908
Won the Matron Stakes — 1908
Won the Spinaway Stakes — 1908
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1909
Won the Gazelle Stakes — 1909
Won the Ladies Stakes — 1909
Won the Mermaid Stakes — 1909
Won the Pierrepont Handicap — 1909

Biography

Few horses have captured the hearts of racing fans the way Holy Bull did. When he succumbed to the infirmities of old age in 2017 at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, the sport lost a beloved champion in the 26-year-old son of Great Above.

“If you were putting together your fantasy horse stable for the past 25 years, you’d have to have Holy Bull in your top five,” said Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin, whose family owned Jonabell prior to Sheikh Mohammed’s purchase in 2001. “Horses like Holy Bull just don’t come along that often. I’ve always said, he wasn’t a specialist — short, grass, long, or dirt. Just a fantastic racehorse. You can’t mention his name without using such words as ‘fighter,’ ‘determination,’ and ‘guts.’”

Holy Bull was retired to Jonabell in 1995 after a remarkable career that led to his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2007. There were, however, doubters of Holy Bull’s greatness in the summer of 1994 even though he had won six graded stakes that year prior to arriving at Saratoga for the 125th running of the Travers. One of his naysayers was a notable figure, future Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of rival Tabasco Cat.

Holy Bull was coming into the Travers riding a three-race win streak — comprised of the Metropolitan Handicap, Dwyer Stakes, and Haskell Invitational — by a combined 14 lengths. Lukas, however, was skeptical of the big gray colt who was owned and trained by Hall of Famer Jimmy Croll.

“Look at Holy Bull’s record under a microscope,” Lukas said. “Who was second when he won the Dwyer? Nobody can tell you.”

Lukas entered Commanche Trail in the Travers as a rabbit in hopes he would hook Holy Bull into a speed duel to the benefit of the late-running Tabasco Cat, winner of the Preakness and Belmont. Commanche Trail did what was expected by delivering sizzling fractions of 22.83 for a quarter-mile and 46.35 for the half. Holy Bull stayed close to the pacesetter under Mike Smith and had a daunting task on his plate when he took the lead with a half-mile to go. At this point, the rabbit was cooked, and the Midsummer Derby was a two-horse race between Holy Bull and a determined Concern, the Arkansas Derby winner.

Withstanding a furious stretch drive from Concern, who had run in the money in eight consecutive stakes races, Holy Bull showed he had the heart to match his talent. Refusing to let Concern by, Holy Bull hit the wire a neck in front to win a contentious Travers before an electric Spa crowd of 46,395. Tabasco Cat, meanwhile, finished 17 lengths back in third.

“He did it the hard way. It showed he’s all heart,” Croll said. “They thought he didn’t have the breeding to go a mile and a quarter. They said he couldn’t go around two turns. They thought he could win only on the lead. They had a rabbit up front and a closing horse chasing him at the end of a mile and a quarter. Well, he did what he had to do. He answered all the questions.”

The Travers victory was the 10th in 12 starts for Holy Bull, as well as his fifth Grade 1. Croll was the longtime trainer for Rachel Carpenter, whose Pelican Stables bred Holy Bull in Florida. When Carpenter died in 1993, she bequeathed seven horses to Croll, including the yet-to-be-raced Holy Bull. At the time, Croll was best known as the trainer of champion Forward Gal, the brilliant sprinter Mr. Prospector, and Bet Twice, who trounced Alysheba by 14 lengths in the 1987 Belmont Stakes to deny him the Triple Crown.

Following the Travers, Holy Bull defeated standouts Devil His Due, Colonial Affair, and Go for Gin in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont to close out his sophomore campaign with five straight wins. Holy Bull won the Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Male. At the end of the year, Holy Bull was assigned 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form Free Handicap — the highest for a 3-year-old in 15 years — and was given a front-page headline of “Bullmania Sweeps the Nation.”

Holy Bull began his 4-year-old season with his sixth consecutive victory, winning the Olympic Handicap at Gulfstream by 2½ lengths. He looked primed for a brilliant season but was pulled up with a bowed tendon in his next start, the Donn Handicap. The decision was made to retire the champion with a career record of 13-0-0 from 16 starts and earnings of $2,481,760.

“If he wasn’t Holy Bull, I’d bring him back to the races next year,” Croll said at the time. “I’m sorry we couldn’t finish the year with him. He would have gone out in a blaze of glory. He has courage and class. I’m going to miss him. Everybody’s going to miss him.”

Retired to stud duty at Jonabell, Holy Bull sired six Grade 1 winners, including 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, and champion juvenile Macho Uno.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 1994
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1994

Notable

Won the Florida Stallion In Reality Stakes — 1993
Won the Futurity Stakes — 1993
Won the Blue Grass Stakes — 1994
Won the Dwyer Stakes — 1994
Won the Florida Derby — 1994
Won the Haskell Invitational Handicap — 1994
Won the Hutcheson Stakes — 1994
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 1994
Won the Travers Stakes — 1994
Won the Woodward Stakes — 1994
Won the Olympic Handicap — 1995

Horse Profile for Holy Bull | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Imported from Argentina as a 4-year-old in 1991, Paseana became a two-time Eclipse Award winner under the care of Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally.

A daughter of Ahmad out of the Flintham mare Pasiflin, Paseana was bred by Haras Vacacion and won five races in Argentina before being purchased by Sidney and Jenny Craig to be campaigned in America.

Sent to McAnally’s base in California, Paseana finished second in her first North American start in 1992 before embarking on a seven-race win streak that included five Grade 1s: the Santa Maria Handicap, Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap, Apple Blossom Handicap, Milady Handicap, and Vanity Handicap. Paseana later won her sixth Grade 1 that year with a dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff by four lengths. With a record of 7-1-0 from nine starts and earnings of $1,518,290, Paseana won the 1992 Eclipse Award for Champion Older Female.

As a 6-year-old, Paseana repeated in the Apple Blossom and Milady and added another Grade 1 win in the Spinster Stakes. However, her attempt to repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff came up a nose short to Hollywood Wildcat. Paseana’s campaign was still considered the best of her class and she once again won the Eclipse for Champion Older Female.

In 1994 as a 7-year-old, Paseana won the Santa Margarita Handicap for the second time and added a Grade 2 victory in the Chula Vista Handicap. She won the Grade 2 Hawthorne Handicap the following year at age 8 before being retired in the summer of 1995 with a career record of 19-10-2 from 36 starts and earnings of $3,317,427. Paseana won a total of 14 graded stakes in America, including 10 Grade 1s.

Paseana died on June 21, 2006, at Haras San Ignacio de Loyola in Argentina at the age of 19.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion Older Mare — 1992
Eclipse Award Champion Older Mare — 1993

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Distaff — 1992

Notable

Apple Blossom Handicap — 1992, 1993
Milady Handicap — 1992, 1993
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap — 1992, 1994
Silver Belles Handicap — 1991
San Gorgonio Handicap — 1992
Santa Maria Handicap — 1992
Vanity Handicap — 1992
Spinster Stakes — 1993
Chula Vista Handicap — 1994
Hawthorne Handicap — 1995

Horse Profile for Paseana (ARG) | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Upon his retirement in 1897, the New York Times described Clifford as “one of the most brilliant performers the American turf has ever known.”

The high praise was in stark contrast to the way Clifford was regarded before he first stepped onto a racetrack.

“As a yearling he was one of the poorest-looking animals of the lot in which he was offered for sale, and nothing great was expected of him,” the Times remarked.

From humble beginnings, Clifford developed into one of the most consistent, durable, successful, and popular racehorses of the 1890s. From 1892 through 1897, Clifford posted a record of 42-10-8 from 62 starts and compiled purse earnings of $65,143.

A dark bay or brown son of Bramble out of the Kingfisher mare Duchess, Clifford was foaled in 1890 at W. H. Jackson’s Belle Meade Stud near Nashville, Tennessee. One of 44 yearlings auctioned at Belle Meade on April 27, 1891, Clifford was purchased for $900 by W. J. Cherry, who quickly sold the horse to Clifford Porter of Lexington, Kentucky.

Porter gave Clifford his name and started him once as a 2-year-old in September 1892. Clifford broke his maiden in his career debut in a 4½-furlong contest at the Latonia track in Kentucky. Eugene Leigh, who had 40 years of experience as a breeder, owner, and trainer, purchased Clifford from Porter that December for $4,000.

Leigh assumed the training of Clifford as a 3-year old and brought in bookmaker Robert L. Rose as a partner in the horse’s ownership. In his first start in 1893, Clifford had an inauspicious beginning and was left at the post and finished unplaced for the first of only two times in his career.

Clifford rebounded quickly, winning the Phoenix Handicap the next day at the old Kentucky Association track. He added a victory in the $2,000-added Latonia Spring Prize before being shipped to Hawthorne Race Course near Chicago. Clifford won an astounding 11 races in a five-week stretch at Hawthorne, carrying as much as 133 pounds during this period and regularly conceding 25 pounds or more to his foes.

The win streak was finally snapped when Clifford was forced to carry 140 pounds in the Austin Handicap. He finished third, giving 36 pounds to the winner. Clifford bounced back in his next race to win the $7,000 Special Sweepstakes at Hawthorne. Clifford continued racing — and winning — into October. On Oct. 28, 1893, he met the great mare Yo Tambien and top handicapper Lamplighter in a $5,000 match race at Hawthorne. Clifford trounced Yo Tambien by eight lengths and Lamplighter by 11 for his 18th and final victory of 1893. Clifford finished the year 18-1-4 from 24 starts.

Clifford’s 4-year-old debut in the Brooklyn Handicap at Gravesend in New York was reminiscent of his 3-year-old unveiling, as he was left at the post and was unplaced for the second — and final — time of his career. Clifford went on to win several stakes races that year before Leigh bought out Rose’s stake in the horse for $25,000 in September 1894. Leigh turned the horse over to future Hall of Famer John W. Rogers to train.

Later that month, Clifford met Henry of Navarre in the nine-furlong Second Special at Gravesend. Clifford reeled in his younger rival at the quarter pole and the two battled inseparably down the stretch. At the wire, Clifford stuck his nose in front, snapping the future Hall of Famer’s 10-race win streak, which included the Belmont and Travers. Clifford finished 1894 with a record of 10-4-1 from 16 starts.

Clifford won his first four races at age 5 in 1895 and finished the year 7-2-1 in 10 starts. His wins that year included the Club Members’ Handicap, Kearney Stakes, Omnium Handicap, Oriental Handicap, and another victory in the Second Special. At 6, Clifford won the Memorial Handicap and Flight Stakes. As a 7-year-old in his final season during 1897, Clifford won the Long Island Handicap. He carried top weight in the race and defeated future Hall of Famer Ben Brush. That year, Clifford also dead-heated with Hastings (the 1896 Belmont winner) in the Kearney Stakes.

Clifford pulled up sore after finishing third in the Omnium Handicap in September 1897 and was subsequently retired. He was purchased for $7,000 by John Sanford for stud duty and sent to Sanford’s Hurricana Farm in Amsterdam, New York, where he produced some quality runners, including Molly Brant, Hill Top, Kennyetto, Cliff Edge, Sea Cliff, and Blackford.

Still revered in retirement, Clifford had numerous visitors during his time at Hurricana, including arguably his biggest fan, John L. Sullivan, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Sullivan was known to follow Clifford closely during his racing career and made several visits to Hurricana to see his old friend during his years as a stallion.

On Sept. 30, 1917, Clifford, at the age of 27, died at Hurricana Farm. In the 1970 book “The Great Ones,” Kent Hollingsworth compiled a list of retrospective champions based on extensive contemporary opinions and recognized Clifford as the Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Male of 1893 and the Co-Champion Handicap Horse of 1894.

Achievements

Co-Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1893
Co-Champion Handicap Horse — 1894

Notable

Won the Oriental Handicap — 1893, 1895
Won the Second Special Stakes — 1894, 1895
Won the Kearney Stakes — 1895, 1897
Won the Latonia Spring Prize Handicap — 1893
Won the Melrose Handicap — 1893
Won the Phoenix Handicap — 1893
Won the Montgomery Handicap — 1894
Won the Sea Foam Stakes — 1894
Won the Omnium Handicap — 1895
Won the Memorial Handicap — 1896
Won the Long Island Handicap — 1897

Biography

The first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby, Needles was a crowd favorite known to come from far off the pace to win in thrilling style.

A son of Kentucky Derby winner Ponder, Needles was out of the Jack High mare Noodle Soup. Foaled and raised in Ocala, Florida, he was trained by Hugh L. Fontaine. Needles was given his name because he had to endure numerous veterinary injections to overcome pneumonia and an assortment of other ailments that plagued him prior to his racing career.

As a 2-year-old, Needles won six races, including the Hopeful and Sapling stakes, and was named champion 2-year-old male for 1955.

Dave Erb took over as Needles’ jockey for the colt’s 3-year-old campaign. Needles was favored for the Kentucky Derby after wins in the Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby. At one point in the Kentucky Derby, Needles was in 16th place in the field of 17 and 24 lengths back. However, Needles rallied furiously and won by three-quarters of a length with Fabius finishing second.

Two weeks later, Fabius turned the tables with Needles finishing second in the Preakness. In the rubber match, Needles defeated Career Boy by a neck in the Belmont with Fabius third. With the Derby and Belmont victories to his credit, along with the earlier wins in Florida, Needles was named champion 3-year-old male for 1956.

Needles started three times as a 4-year-old in 1957. In his final career start, he won the Fort Lauderdale Handicap, equaling a Gulfstream Park track record. Needles concluded his career with a record of 11-3-3 from 21 starts and earnings of $600,355. He died in 1984 at the age of 31.

Achievements

Champion 2-Year-old Male — 1955
Champion 3-Year-Old Male — 1956

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Kentucky Derby — 1956
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1956

Notable

Won the Hopeful Stakes — 1955
Won the Sapling Stakes — 1955
Won the Flamingo Stakes — 1956
Won the Florida Derby — 1956
Won the Fort Lauderdale Handicap — 1957

Horse Profile for Needles | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information