On September 25, Atticus Jack became the 13th lifetime stakes winner for his California-based sire, Atticus, when he wired the $75,000 Ralph M. Hinds Handicap on closing day of the 2011 Fairplex Park meet.
The 5-year-old gelding indicated his readiness for a jump into stakes company with a half-length win in a one-mile allowance optional claiming race on the turf at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on August 28, followed by a bullet five-furlong work at Fairplex on September 20. Under veteran rider Agapito Delgadillo, he leaped immediately into action in the seven-horse Hinds and subsequently negotiated three turns of the tight bullring oval with ease, setting internal fractions of :24.44, :48.99, 1:13.21 and 1:38.09 as he controlled the pace comfortably alongside the rail.
After leading the field throughout, Atticus Jack successfully overcame a late challenge from the fast-closing Norvsky to secure his first career stakes victory by three-quarters of a length. His final time for the dirt test, which was conducted at about 1 1/8 miles, was 1:51.04. The win was worth $42,250 to his owners, Janet Lyons, Jeremy Peskoff and Wind River Stables, and $15.20 to those handicappers who had backed him for the top spot at odds of 6-1.
Bred in California by Greg and Valorie Scherr, Atticus Jack has won six of 14 starts overall, and earned $238,240. The Brian Koriner trainee is the first foal out of Cremedelacramer, an unraced daughter of Avenue of Flags, and previously collected black type in 2008 with his third-place outing in the $125,000 California Breeders’ Champion Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Atticus Jack is one of four stakes winners from the inaugural California crop of Atticus, who has stood at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez since 2005. Now 19, the Grade 1-winning Nureyev stallion is credited with collective progeny earnings of more than $12.4 million from 11 crops of racing age. — September 25, 2011
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (June 23, 2011) – Longshot Lucky Primo held off odds-on favorite Norvsky to win Thursday’s $71,800 Golden State Cup for California-breds at Hollywood Park.
Lucky Primo is by Atticus, out of the Personal Flag mare Live Free Or Die, was bred by Joshua Litt, Jason Litt and Dennis O’Neill, is owned by JBK Stable and Jason Litt and trained by Joshua Litt.
He has four wins in 11 starts, earnings of $236,632 and was coming off a second in an Apr. 14 allowance.
Lucky Primo ran the mile on turf in 1:34.49 and won by 2 ½ lengths at odds of 8-1. Norvsky was second and Renegade Storm third in the field of five.
(Source: CTBA.com)
In an effort reminiscent of his world record-setting sire, the Atticus gelding Bruce’s Dream thrived at the distance and surface of his latest stakes win: the $100,000 John C. Mabee California Cup Mile Stakes on October 30. Conducted by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Hollywood Park, the one-mile turf test was one of seven stakes races carded for the California Cup XXI program featuring runners who were either bred or sired in the Golden State.
It was silver-coated Bruce’s Dream who got up for the Mile win under Joseph Talamo, giving the rider his fourth victory on the day. The 4-year-old gelding defeated five rivals as the 8-5 favorite. He made his winning move from fifth to second in mid-stretch by going four-wide, and subsequently reached the wire a neck in front of pacesetter Colgan’s Chip, the same rival whom he had bested three months earlier in the grassy, 1 1/16-mile California Dreamin’ Handicap at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. His final time for the Cal Cup Mile was 1:34.37.
“If you place this horse right and keep him with the right horses, he just runs his eyeballs out,” said trainer Mike Puype, who conditions California-bred Bruce’s Dream for breeder Bruce Corwin of Corwin Racing. “He wants to win; he runs to win.”
The second foal out of the winning Smokester mare Remember Dorothy boasts six victories and two thirds from eight starts, and total earnings of $293,940. His two placings came in elite company: the 2010 Del Mar Mile Handicap (G2) at Del Mar and Oak Tree’s 2009 Morvich Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita Park.
Bruce’s Dream is one of three stakes winners from the first California-conceived crop of Atticus, a resident of Magali Farms in Santa Ynez. The 18-year-old son of Nureyev holds the world record for running one mile on turf in 1:31.89 while winning Santa Anita’s 1997 Arcadia Handicap (G2), and has overall progeny earnings of more than $11.3 million from 10 crops to race. — October 30, 2010 (Source: The Thoroughbred Showcase of the West)
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Oct. 30, 2010) – Favored Bruce’s Dream wore down Colgan’s Chip in a stretch duel of grays to win Saturday’s $100,000 John C. Mabee California Cup Mile Presented by TVG at Oak Tree at Hollywood Park.
Bruce’s Dream is 4-year-old gelding by Atticus, out of the Smokester mare Remember Dorothy, was bred by Bruce Corwin, is owned by Corwin Racing, trained by Mike Puype and was ridden by Joe Talamo, his fourth winner on the card.
“Man, what a day. I wish it was always like this,” said Talamo. “He’s such a nice horse and it’s always such a pleasure to ride him. He lays it down every time. He’s one of those horses who knows where the wire is. He just loves to win. This horse is the real deal.”
Bruce’s Dream has six wins in eight starts, earnings of $293,940 and was coming off a third in the Aug. 28 Del Mar Mile. He ran the mile on a “good” turf course in 1:34.37 and won by a neck at odds of 8-5. Colgan’s Chip was second and Liberian Freighter third (as he was in this race in 2008) in the field of six.
“We pointed and waited for this one after his last,” said Puype. “If you place this horse right and keep him with the right horses, he just runs his eyeballs out. He fires every time, and I thought it was a perfect plan to just wait for this race.” –October 30, 2010
(Source: CTBA.com)
Neither the route distance nor a wide trip hampered Bruce’s Dream from capturing his first stakes trophy on July 25, when the Atticus gelding kept his record at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club perfect with a narrow victory in the appropriately named California Dreamin’ Handicap.
The 1 1/16-mile grass event for horses who were either bred or sired in California marked a significant progression for the 4-year-old runner, who had won four of his five previous starts at sprint distances. The Mike Puype trainee broke his maiden in his six-furlong career debut on the Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita Park in October 2008, then reeled off consecutive five-furlong victories on the Del Mar turf course in July and August 2009. After a solid third-place effort behind subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner California Flag in the $100,000 Morvich Handicap (G3) on Santa Anita’s 6 1/2-furlong downhill turf course in September 2009, he was not seen again until June 25, 2010, when he won his return in a six-furlong grass allowance at Hollywood Park after battling sore shins during the interim.
Bruce’s Dream was reunited with his jockey from that last race, Joe Talamo, for the $100,000 California Dreamin’. The twosome again proved to be a formidable pair, as they broke from the far outside post in the six-horse field, endured a wide trip throughout while running in fifth, then gobbled up ground in the stretch to snare victory by a head in a swift 1:40.96 as the 9-5 second wagering choice.
The dappled gray gelding added $60,000 to his six-race bankroll, which now sits at $212,940 with five wins to his credit. He is the second foal out of Smokester’s winning daughter Remember Dorothy, and was bred in California by owner Bruce Corwin of Corwin Racing.
He is the 12th stakes winner for 18-year-old Atticus, a resident of Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The Grade 1-winning Nureyev stallion has total progeny earnings of more than $11 million to date. — July 25, 2010
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
After recently passing $10 million in lifetime progeny earnings, the California sire Atticus continued to embellish his 2009 list of achievements when his 2-year-old daughter Girl Bar finished a hard-trying second in the $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Turf Dash Stakes at Calder Race Course on August 29.
Although she faced seven colts in the five-furlong grass sprint, the Florida-bred filly was sent postward for her second career start and stakes debut as the even-money favorite. With jockey Paco Lopez in the irons, she was aggressive throughout from her outside post.
Girl Bar hopped in the air when the starting gate opened, and was quickly rushed into contention by her rider, who moved her up to chase the pace three-wide into the stretch. In the final yards, the duo managed to get within a length of the 45-1 front-runner, Retire to What, but they were left with too much to do and, ultimately, reached the wire a length behind that speedy rival.
The Wesley Ward homebred has now earned $48,000. Under Ward’s training regimen, she broke her maiden last April in her 2 1/2-furlong racing debut on the dirt at Gulfstream Park, but she did not compete again until the Turf Dash, nearly five months later. Girl Bar is the second stakes horse produced by the winner My Kai, a stakes-placed daughter of In Excess (Ire).
Atticus, a Grade 1 winner and millionaire, is also represented this year by his Grade 2-placed dual stakes winner Strawberry Tart, 3, and his 8-year-old veteran stakes winner Atticus Kristy among his 26 stakes horses from nine crops of racing age. The 17-year-old Nureyev stallion stands at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. — August 29, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
In the midst of one of his most successful years of production, it was appropriate that the California stallion Atticus achieved yet another landmark on August 12. His 2006 Grade 3 winner Can’t Beat It ran unplaced in a 1 1/16-mile turf race at Delaware Park, but earned enough from the effort to elevate his sire past the $10 million mark in lifetime progeny earnings.
The 6-year-old veteran is one of 25 stakes horses representing the 17-year-old Nureyev stallion, who relocated from Kentucky to stand at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California prior to the 2005 breeding season. An earner of $377,190 from 32 starts, Can’t Beat It is also one of five Atticus runners to capture a graded or group stakes event, a coalition led by the 2005 Florida Derby (G1) winner and 2009 first-crop sire High Fly ($927,300).
Several other offspring have added to their sire’s laurels in 2009. Atticus Kristy, a 62-time starter and $761,050-earner who hit a career high when he won Keeneland Race Course’s 2006 Shakertown Stakes (G3) at 5, succeeded in Monmouth Park’s $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes on August 8 as an 8-year-old. On the opposite end of the spectrum is 3-year-old Strawberry Tart, a blossoming filly who has won four races this year, including Hollywood Park’s $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes and $87,335 Manhattan Beach Stakes, and ran a hard-fought second in the $150,000 San Clemente Handicap (G2) at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on August 1.
Strawberry Tart represents her sire’s initial crop of California-conceived runners, as does the colt Lucky Primo, winner of the $125,000 California Cup Juvenile Stakes in October 2008.
A Grade 1 winner and $1.2 million-earner who set a world-record time for one mile (1:31.89) in 1997, Atticus is currently represented by nine crops of racing age. He has sired 143 winners from 247 starters, and boasts more than $40,000 in average earnings per runner. — August 12, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
After knocking on the door with two seconds and a third in three consecutive stakes races from May through July, the veteran Atticus runner Atticus Kristy broke through with a spirited victory in his 62nd lifetime start: the $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes at Monmouth Park on August 8.
The turf sprint specialist, who captured Keeneland Race Course’s grassy, Grade 3 Shakertown Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs in 2006, relished the same approximate distance on the Jersey Shore in the My Frenchman. Entered as the 4-5 favorite against six rivals and paired with jockey Joe Bravo, the well-traveled gelding tracked 1 1/2 lengths behind the two battling front-runners while racing in third alongside the rail, swung to the outside in the stretch, then got his 8-year-old legs pumping when it came time to do the real running. He reached the wire in a robust 1:02.13 as a one-length winner, improving his total bankroll to $761,050 with the $36,000 paycheck.
Atticus Kristy is now in profit mode for his new owner, David Ross, who claimed the four-time stakes winner from his breeder, Centaur Farms Inc., and former co-owner, Dan Lynch, for $50,000 at Keeneland four months ago; he has earned more than $65,000 from his four subsequent starts for Ross at Monmouth and Atlantic City Race Course.
Overall, the Kentucky-bred carries a career line of 14 wins, 13 seconds and 12 thirds. He is the third stakes winner out of the Unbridled mare Christy Love, and is currently trained by Michael Pino.
Atticus Kristy is one of 25 stakes horses sired by the 17-year-old Magali Farms stallion Atticus, a Grade 1-winning millionaire by Nureyev who relocated to California prior to the 2005 breeding season. — August 8, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
The steadily improving Atticus filly Strawberry Tart, perfect in her last two starts, stepped up to Grade 2 stakes company for Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s $150,000 San Clemente Handicap on August 1, and emerged just a nose short of victory. [WATCH RACE VIDEO]
A dual stakes winner on the turf during Hollywood Park’s 2009 spring/summer meet, Strawberry Tart returned to the surface at Del Mar for the one-mile San Clemente, a race which attracted 10 sophomore fillies for its 42nd edition. She was reunited with rider Martin Garcia, who guided her in both Hollywood wins, and installed as the second wagering choice at odds of 2.40-1.
After a clean break from post #3, the Jeff Bonde-trained filly was bumped by a rival when the field bunched up entering the first turn. She overcame that wobble to run in fifth along the rail for the majority of the trip, eventually passing the tiring front-runner in the stretch to take a brief, glorious lead on her own. But, on her outside, the 11-1 longhsot Starlarks (Ire) was full of momentum from her own last-to-first run, and was able to nip Strawberry Tart at the wire in a swift 1:33.82.
“Tough beat,” Garcia said after the race, which marked his mount’s first runner-up finish from seven career starts. “For a second there, I thought I had it.”
Strawberry Tart is now her sire’s leading North American female earner, with a bankroll of $182,625. The four-time winner was bred in California by Valentine Farm LLC, and produced by the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Mylittletart. Her owners are George and Mary Clare Schmitt.
Atticus, 17, holds court at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The Grade 1 winner by Nureyev has 25 stakes horses and progeny earnings of more than $9.9 million to date. — August 1, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Like the proverbial bottle of wine, Atticus Kristy just keeps improving with age. In the current racing season, his seventh to date, the 8-year-old Atticus gelding has not finished worse than third in six trips postward. Moreover, he added a third consecutive stakes placing to his 2009 tally in mid-July.
A short-distance turf specialist and Keeneland Grade 3 winner in 2006 who has made 48 of his 61 lifetime starts on the lawn, Atticus Kristy has experienced a rejuvenation since he was claimed for $50,000 from his breeder, Centaur Farms Inc., and former co-owner, Dan Lynch, out of a Keeneland Polytrack race in April. His new owner, David Ross, immediately elevated him back into stakes company, first at Atlantic City Race Course and then at Monmouth Park; Atticus Kristy responded with a gritty pair of runner-up efforts.
Kept at Monmouth for the track’s $60,000 John McSorley Stakes on July 12, the Kentucky-bred got up for third in the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash, with only the noses of the winner and the second-place finisher preventing him from attaining his 14th career victory. Saddled by trainer Michael Pino and ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, he collected $7,200 for the show to push his total bankroll to $725,050.
Atticus Kristy is the first foal out of Christy Love, an Unbridled mare who was unplaced from only two starts as a racehorse, but who has succeeded at stud by producing three stakes-winning, six-figure earners. Her oldest offspring has now won or placed in 38 races since he debuted at 2 in 2003.
The three-time stakes winner is the second-highest lifetime earner for Grade 1 winner Atticus, a resident at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The 17-year-old Nureyev stallion is represented by 11 stakes winners and the collective earners of more than $9.8 million to date. — July 12, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Less than a month after she captured the first stakes race of her career on the Hollywood Park turf course, the Atticus filly Strawberry Tart continued to blossom with another black-type victory over the same grassy Southern California strip.
Stretching out to a mile for the first time and running again under lights on a July 3 Friday night program, the 3-year-old filly was given the same come-from-behind ride in the $100,000 Flawlessly Stakes that jockey Martin Garcia had utilized to perfection in the $87,335 Manhattan Beach Stakes on June 5. The duo was sent postward as the 2-1 favorite in the nine-horse field of sophomore fillies assembled for the Flawlessly and they did not disappoint their backers, returning a $6.40 win ticket in a final time of 1:34.28.
“I rode her with a lot of confidence,” Garcia said of the half-length winner, who collected $60,000 for her second consecutive stakes triumph. “She broke real good and I took her back to make one run. When I asked her to go, she kicked home like a superstar.”
Strawberry Tart was bred in California by Valentine Farm LLC, and now races for owners George and Mary Clare Schmitt. A $13,500 graduate of the 2007 Barretts January Mixed Sale, she has earned $152,625 with four wins from six starts under the tutelage of trainer Jeff Bonde. Her dam is Mylittletart, by Strawberry Road (Aus).
Atticus, a Grade 1 winner on dirt and a world record-holder on turf during his distinguished racing career, currently resides at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The 17-year-old son of Nureyev has sired the collective earners of more than $9.7 million. — July 3, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
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Making her turf debut at odds of 13-1 and straying from her usual front-running tactics, the Atticus filly Strawberry Tart overcame all challenges to post a clear victory in the $87,335 Manhattan Beach Stakes during a Friday night program at Hollywood Park on June 5. The California-bred runner also responded to cues from jockey Martin Garcia, who was partnered with her for the first time in her five-start career. Although the Jeff Bonde trainee had won two of her earlier races on the front end, she was kept in reserve near back of the eight-horse field after she broke seventh from the gate in the six-furlong Manhattan Beach, a grass event which was restricted to 3-year-old fillies. |
A two-time winner on the dirt at Oaklawn Park by a combined total of nearly 20 lengths earlier this year, Strawberry Tart has now won three races — each at the six-furlong distance — and banked $92,625 for owners George and Mary Clare Schmitt. She was bred by Valentine Farm LLC and produced by the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Mylittletart.
Strawberry Tart is the 11th lifetime stakes winner for the Grade 1-winning Magali Farms stallion Atticus. The 17-year-old Nureyev sire is represented by total progeny earnings of more than $9.6 million to date. — June 5, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus Kristy, a veteran campaigner by the California-based sire Atticus, added more black type to his storied career on May 1, when he ran second in a five-furlong turf stakes at Atlantic City Race Course and pushed his overall earnings past the $700,000 mark.
The 8-year-old gelding, a Grade 3 winner in 2006 who currently divides his time between stakes company and high-dollar claiming company, collected a $10,000 check for his runner-up finish in the New Jersey track’s $50,000 Tony Gatto Dream Big Stakes, which attracted eight runners. Sent off as the 7-2 wagering favorite under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, Atticus Kristy raced off the pace from the inside, angled out at the top of the lane and rallied between rivals late to secure the place, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner, Hesa Big Star.
Bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms Inc., Atticus Kristy has crafted a career of distinction. A late bloomer, he won his first stakes event at 4, captured Keeneland Race Course’s Shakertown Stakes (G3) at 5 and placed in Churchill Downs’ Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes for the second time last year at 7. From 59 starts, he totes 13 wins, 12 seconds and 11 thirds and earnings of $705,850. He is trained by Michael Pino for owner David Ross.
Produced by the Unbridled mare Christy Love, Atticus Kristy is a full brother to the stakes winner Fiery Dancer and a half-brother to the multiple graded stakes-placed stakes winner Distorted Reality.
Atticus Kristy is the second-highest earner for the Grade 1-winning Magali Farms stallion Atticus. The 17-year-old son of Nureyev is represented by total progeny earnings of more than $9.4 million. — May 1, 2009
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Less than three months after his son Lucky Primo made headlines when he won the $125,000 Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile Stakes during the Oak Tree Racing Association meet at Santa Anita Park, another precocious runner from the 2006 crop of California stallion Atticus got up for a prominent black-type placing at the Arcadia oval.
The Brian Koriner-trained Atticus Jack, who, like Lucky Primo, was conceived during his sire's initial 2005 season in California, was undefeated from his two lifetime starts heading into the $125,000 California Breeders' Champion Stakes on December 26, having made his successful six-furlong career debut at Santa Anita in mid-October, followed by a seven-furlong allowance victory at Hollywood Park in mid-November. Sent off at 8-1 for his first foray into stakes competition, the gelding carried jockey Aaron Gryder from sixth to third in the stretch run of the seven-furlong Pro-Ride race, which had attracted 11 other starters and which he completed about 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner.
Bred in California by Greg and Valorie Scherr, Atticus Jack collected $15,000 for the effort, and advanced his earnings to $44,160. He is out of Cremedelacramer, by Avenue of Flags, and is campaigned by Janet Lyons, Jeremy Peskoff and Wind River Stables.
Grade 1 winner Atticus, a millionaire and world record-setter during his international racing career, currently resides at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, California. The 16-year-old Nureyev stallion has sired 132 winners and the collective earners of more than $9.2 million from eight crops to race. - December 26, 2008
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
The first winner from Atticus's first California crop became its first stakes horse Monday when Lucky Primo finished strongly to take third place in the $100,000-added Im Smokin Stakes at Del Mar.
Making only his third start, Lucky Primo moved from the middle of the 11-horse field to move vigorously through the stretch to finish less than a length back of the winner, beaten a head and three-quarters of a length.
After finishing a well-beaten seventh in his initial start in July at Hollywood Park, Lucky Primo found his racing legs in his first start at Del Mar, taking a maiden special weight race by a half-length.
He came right back two weeks later to earn his black type by becoming his sire's 21st stakes horse.
Lucky Primo, bred in California by Joshua and Jason Litt and Dennis O'Neill, is owned by J B K Stable and Jason Litt and trained by Martin Jones. His rider ws Joel Rosario.
Atticus, whose runners include Florida Derby winner High Fly ($927,300), moved from Kentucky to California for the 2005 breeding season. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--September 3.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Starticus, a lightly-raced 4-year-old son of Atticus, made his stakes debut in the $200,000 Arlington Sprint Handicap Saturday at Arlington Park, and it took a course-record performance to beat him.
Starticus spent the entire 5 1/2 furlongs chasing the odds-on favorite, who led from start to finish, winning by two lengths and breaking the record for the turf course.
After breaking third in the 10-horse field, Starticus immediately moved up to second and pressed the front-runner all the way, interrupted momentarily by having to steady at the half-mile pole.
It was only the ninth career start for Starticus, who had moved steadily toward his stakes debut with three allowance wins in his previous four starts. Saturday's race was the first in the United States for the Kentucky-bred. Seven of his first eight starts were at Woodbine; the other was at Fort Erie, where he won for the first time last October--by 15 1/4 lengths in a maiden special weight race.
His record now shows four wins, two seconds, and a third with earnings of $190,933. He's never run in a claiming race.
Starticus, out of the Fly So Free mare Evening Stardrift, was bred by George G. DeYoung, is owned by Danny M. Lococo, is trained by Ralph Biamonte, and was ridden by Junior Alvarado.
He's the 20th stakes horse sired by Atticus, a son of Nureyev who set a world record for one mile in winning the Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--August 25.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Seven-year-old Atticus Kristy added another page to his remarkable racing history Friday when he finished third in the $100,000 Aegon Turf Sprint Stakes at Churchill Downs, a Grade 3 event.
That increased to $589,492 the career earnings of the gelded son of Atticus, but that's just part of his story, a tale of durability and a long climb up the quality ladder.
Once third in two starts at 2, he showed promise at 3 with three wins in his first four starts--maiden special weight and allowances--but couldn't find the winner's circle again until midway through his 4-year-old season. He had slipped into the claiming ranks before he could score his second victory--for a $40,000 price, in his 16th career start.
He made it three wins in a row, for $50,000 claiming and in an allowance, and never again saw a claiming race. He took another allowance race in his next start, then embarked on a challenging new career as a stakes-class horse.
From that time, almost three years ago, he's run in two allowance races, one handicap--and 24 stakes races. The 27th race of that lengthy string was Friday's Egon Turf Sprint, the 12th added-money race in which he's won or placed.
It was the second time that he'd run third in the Egon. Those races are two of six graded events in which he's won or placed.
Now, still going strong in his sixth season of racing, his record looks like this: 45 starts, 10 wins, eight seconds, 11 thirds, and earnings of $589,492.
He finished only two lengths back of the winner in Friday's race, but after entering the stretch in fifth place he had to close fast to gain third.
Atticus Kristy is owned by Centaur Farms, Inc., and Dan Lynch. He was bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms, Inc.
Atticus, a world-record setter at one mile and sire of 18 stakes horses, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--May 4.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Campaigning again after a lengthy layoff, 6-year-old Atticus Kristy showed that he's regaining form with a near-miss third-place finish in the $100,000-added Woodford Stakes Thursday at Keeneland.
The Atticus gelding's first race after an 11-month vacation wasn't promising, but Thursday's second effort showed the level of performance that he consistently produced before losing form and retiring to the sidelines.
He finished sixth and then 10th in stakes races last October and November, uncharacteristic for a performer who'd been off the board only once in 21 previous races, and he went to the sidelines.
But in the Woodford he recovered his lost ability and produced a late run under jockey Robby Albarado, missing victory by only a head and three-quarters of a length after being bumped at the start of the 5 1/2-furlong turf race.
He's now won three stakes--one of them Grade 3--and placed in seven others, two of those graded, and has earnings of $552,672 in 38 starts over five seasons. His record shows 10 wins, seven seconds, and nine thirds.
Bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms, Inc., he's owned by his breeder in partnership with Dan Lynch and is trained by Merrill Scherer.
Atticus Kristy is one of 18 stakes horses sired by Atticus, a world-record setter at one mile, who stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--October 20.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Stepping up into added-money company for the first time, Full of Run became the 18th stakes horse sired by Atticus when he took second place in the $125,000 Halton Stakes Monday at Woodbine.
The lightly-raced 3-year-old, unraced at 2, was making only his sixth career start and came into the race as a winner only in maiden company. But he'd run a good second in an allowance turf race last month in his first effort around two turns and used that as a springboard into the one-mile Halton on the grass.
He showed that he belonged at that level, racing close to the leaders into the final turn and briefly taking the lead entering the stretch. He yielded to the close surge of the winner and wound up second in the field of nine, beaten only two lengths.
With one win, two seconds, a third and a fourth in six starts, Full of Run has already earned $80,517. Bred in Ontario by Patrick Lawley-Wakelin and Mark R. Frostad, he's owned by Bar None Ranches Ltd. and trained by David Bell. He was ridden in Monday's race by Justin Stein.
Atticus, a world record-setter at one mile and sire of 18 stakes horses, including Grade 1 winner High Fly, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--September 5.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus's talented 3-year-old son Can't Beat It concluded a banner year with a two-length victory in the $100,000 Pete Axthelm Stakes Saturday at Calder Race Course.
Following a 2-year-old season that produced little indication of things to come, Can't Beat It has won three stakes races and earned $238,800 in eight starts as a 3-year-old, increasing his career bankroll to $267,960.
In his freshman year, Can't Beat It won once in six starts, requiring four races to break his maiden and earning $29,160. But in the new year, he moved quickly upward, competing in stakes races in eight of his nine 2006 starts. He started once in allowance company, winning that one and moving three weeks later to his first stakes victory.
In addition to the Axthelm, he's won the Grade 3 Calder Derby and the Hallandale Beach Stakes, the latter at Gulfstream Park.
Can't Beat It, sent off as the favorite in the race, gave his supporters concern early in the Axthelm, racing 10th in the 11-horse field after a half-mile in the 7 1/2-furlong event. Then jockey Eddie Castro swung him around the turn, hitting the stretch eight wide, and he moved steadily forward to hit the wire two lengths in front.
Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Live Oak Plantation, Can't Beat It is trained by Martin Wolfson.
Atticus, a world-record-setting miler who earned $1,205,933, is the sire of 16 stakes horses. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--January 1.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus welcomed his seventh stakes winner Saturday when 3-year-old Fiery Dancer scored a wire-to-wire victory in the $74,250 Pago Hop Stakes at the reconstructed Fair Grounds.
It was the first stakes win for the Kentucky-bred, who had run second earlier this year in the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs. His record now shows four wins, two seconds, and two thirds in 14 starts for earnings of $169,494. He's won allowance races at Keeneland and Churchill Downs.
In the one-mile Pago Hop, he took the lead out of the gate and stayed in front to the finish while under pressure all the way, finally prevailing by a neck in what the official chart called "a game effort."
Fiery Dancer was bred by his owner, Centaur Farms, Inc., and is trained by Merrill Scherer.
Atticus, sire of 16 stakes horses and earners of more than $7,000,000, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif. --November 28.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Already a stakes winner, Atticus's 3-year-old son Can't Beat It moved up a level Saturday at Calder Race Course and became a graded stakes winner with a comfortable victory in the $200,000 Calder Derby.
With his triumph in the Grade 3 event at 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Can't Beat It became his sire's fourth graded stakes winner, joining High Fly ($927,300), Atticus Kristy ($539,606), and Petite Speciale ($258,541) at that elite level.
Co-favorite in the field of 11, Can't Beat It raced in mid-pack to the stretch, where jockey Rene Douglas took him to the lead, and he pulled away to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
Can't Beat It came close to gaining graded credentials when he finished second in the Grade 2 American Derby on July 22 at Arlington Park, but he was disqualified and placed 14th. He earlier had won the ungraded Holland Beach Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Bred in Kentucky by his owner, Live Oak Plantation, Can't Beat It is trained by Martin Wolfson. He's earned $207,960 in 13 starts at 2 and 3.
Atticus, sire of 16 stakes horses, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--October 16.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus Kristy has added another victory to his long string of stakes successes.
The consistent 5-year-old son of Atticus took the lead out of the gate and led unchallenged all the way to the wire to capture the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes Tuesday at Kentucky Downs.
Atticus Kristy has won three stakes races and placed in seven others over four seasons of racing, but, most remarkably, he has been off the board only once in his last 21 starts, a stretch that included 13 stakes races. He won seven of the 21, ran second in six, and was third in five. He was unplaced in only three races, finishing fourth in two and fifth in the other.
The Kentucky-bred's stakes wins include the Grade 3 Shakertown Handicap at Churchill Downs. He's amassed $539,606 in earnings, $477,886 of it at 4 and 5.
Ridden by Jesus Castanon in the Turf Dash, he lengthened his lead steadily through the stretch to finish in front by 2 1/2 lengths. He was favored to win, and he did.
Atticus Kristy is owned by his breeder, Centaur Farms, Inc., in partnership with Dan Lynch. He's trained by Merrill Scherer.
Atticus, sire of 16 stakes horses and earners of more than $7,000,000, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--September 30.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus's durable 5-year-old son Atticus Kristy broke past the $400,000 level in career earnings and narrowly missed gaining his second graded stakes victory with a second-place finish Sunday in the $200,000 Scotts Highlander Stakes at Woodbine.
Under jockey Robby Albarado, Atticus Kristy moved strongly in the stretch of the Grade 3 event and missed by just a half-length while gaining on the leader. It was his eighth placing in an added-money event and his fourth such finish in his past four races. In those four races, he's won one Grade 3 race and placed in two others at Keeneland, Churchill Downs and now Woodbine.
His earnings now total $427,606 in 32 starts over four seasons. He's won nine races and placed in 14 others, finishing on the board in 27 of those 32 efforts.
Atticus Kristy was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Centaur Farms, Inc., and is trained by Merrill Scherer.
Atticus, a Grade 1 winner of $1,205,933, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--June 27.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Trezene, bred in Kentucky but firmly established in France, continued his fruitful 4-year-old season Friday with a third-place finish in the $63,075 Prix du Carrousel at Saint-Cloud.
It was the first stakes placing for Trezene as he became the 15th stakes horse sired by Atticus, the holder of the world record for one mile. Trezene's stakes effort was considerably farther than one mile. At 3,100 meters, it was about a sixteenth short of a full two miles.
At 4 this year, Trezene has won two allowance races, each by six lengths, and placed in a stakes race in four starts. Unraced at 2, he won a maiden race and an allowance race last year at 3. His earnings now total $79,599 in 11 starts. He's raced only in France.
Atticus, sire of Florida Derby winner High Fly ($927,300) and 14 other stakes horses, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--June 19.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus Kristy just keeps getting better with age.
The durable 5-year-old son of Atticus boosted his 2006 earnings to $111,508 and his career bankroll to $392,006 with a close-up second-place finish in the $70,000-added Texas Glitter Handicap Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Atticus Kristy was poised to take the lead from the front-runner as the field neared the finish when a late closer flashed into the lead, leaving him in second place at the wire, just a half-length back of the winner.
The Kentucky-bred, who had never raced in a stakes race until last September, now has won or placed in seven of them in his last 11 starts, including three graded events.
In six starts as a 5-year-old, he's won a Grade 3 stake and run second in an ungraded stake, third in a Grade 3, and fourth in two ungraded ones. In between, he's won an allowance race.
He's owned by his breeder, Centaur Farms, Inc., in partnership with Dan Lynch and is trained by Merrill Scherer. His rider in the Texas Glitter was Robby Albarado.
Atticus, sire of 14 stakes horses and earners of more than $6,400,000, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--June 5.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
A powerful rally carried Can't Beat It from seventh place to first to give the son of Atticus his first stakes victory Sunday in the $60,000 Hallandale Beach Sakes at Gulfstream Park.
Jockey Eddie Castro rated Can't Beat It well off the pace in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile event, racing eighth and then seventh in the 12-horse field but moved him up swiftly on the turn for home and entered the stretch in second place, two and a half lengths behind the leader.
The 3-year-old persevered and moved steadily through the stretch to win by a length and three quarters.
It was the first stakes win for Can't Beat It in his ninth career start. He tuned up for the Hallandale Beach with an allowance win at Gulfstream Park on January 20 at the same distance. He's won three races, run second once, and finished third twice for earnings of $87,960.
Can't Beat It is the 13th stakes horse sired by Atticus--six stakes winners and seven stakes-placed winners. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Live Oak Plantation, and is trained by Martin D. Wolfson.
Atticus, a Grade 1 stakes winner of $1,205,933, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--February 14.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
A late run from back in the pack narrowly missed for Palaestra Saturday at Calder Race Course, and she settled for a second-place finish in the $40,000 Charon Stakes, beaten just a half-length.
The 4-year-old daughter of Atticus moved up to stakes company belatedly, but she's shown that she belongs there. In her first stakes start, in September at Monmouth Park, she finished second in the Lighthouse Stakes. After stopping off at Keeneland to run third in an allowance race, she scored her second blacktype finish in two tries in Saturday's race.
Palaestra was fifth in the field of eight turning for home in the 1 1/16-mile race, but jockey Jorge Chavez moved her up to third in the stretch then into second, and she was gaining on the winner at the finish.
Her earnings now total $124,965 in 15 starts. She's never run in a claiming race.
The Kentucky-bred is owned by Robert N. Clay, who bred her in partnership with the Albert G. Clay 1990 Revocable Trust. She's trained by John Kimmel.
Palaestra's sire, Atticus, set a world record for one mile on his way to earning $1,200,120. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--December 13.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
In her first venture into stakes company, 4-year-old Eximius (GB) became Atticus's 12th stakes horse Monday with a third-place finish in the $47,000 Prix Tantieme--across the ocean at the Fontainebleau race course in France.
Although she was foaled in Great Britain, Eximius has raced only in France, winning two allowance races at Fontanebleau and another at Compiegne in compiling a record of four wins and one third in 10 starts that have netted her earnings of $57,397.
The Prix Tantieme attracted a field of 14 runners for the 1 1/4-mile event on the turf.
Atticus, who still holds the world record for one mile, has sired 88 winners, including Grade 1 winner High Fly ($927,300), recently retired to stud. Atticus, a millionaire son of Nureyev, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--November 30.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
The fifth time was the charm for Atticus Kristy Sunday at Churchill Downs as the 4-year-old son of Atticus scored a come-from-behind victory in the $70,800-added Cherokee Run Handicap.
Atticus Kristy moved up to stakes company for the first time on September 5 and since then has seen nothing but added-money competition--five straight races.
After finishing fifth in the first of the five, he earned black type with two second-place finishes in a row and then took third in the Grade 2 Nearctic Handicap October 23 at Woodbine.
But he still wasn't a stakes winner, a problem that he took care of in the Cherokee Run with a powerful stretch run after racing ninth in the field of 11 in the early stages of the five-furlong event on the turf. He entered the stretch in fourth position and seized the lead in the final sixteenth, edging away to win by three-quarters of a length.
The win, his seventh in 24 starts, increased his career earnings to $278,441.
Atticus Kristy was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Centaur Farms, Inc. He's trained by Merrill Scherer.
Atticus Kristy is one of 11 stake horses sired by Atticus, a Grade 1 winner and holder of the world record for one mile. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez.--November 9.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Succeeding in his new life as a stakes horse, Atticus Kristy is coming close to his first blacktype victory, but he's not quite there yet.
The 4-year-old son of Atticus got a head in front in the upper stretch in Sunday's $100,000-added Woodford Stakes at Keeneland but couldn't hold on and wound up second, just a neck behind the winner.
Two weeks earlier Atticus Kristy earned his first black type with a second-place finish in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes at Kentucky Downs, beaten just a head.
Although he was an allowance winner last year at 3, Atticus Kristy slipped briefly into the claiming ranks earlier this year. But consecutive wins for $40,000 and then $50,000, earned him a promotion, and he responded with an allowance victory in his next start in July.
Since then he's operated on a new level, climaxed by second-place finishes in $100,000 stakes in his two most recent outings. With six wins, he's now earned $187,005.
Bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms Inc., Atticus Kristy is owned by his breeder and Dan Lynch. His trainer is Merrill Scherer.
Atticus, sire of earners of more than $5,500,000, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--October 11.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus Kristy almost became Atticus's fifth stakes winner Saturday at Kentucky Downs but had to settle for becoming his 11th stakes horse when he was narrowly edged at the wire in the $100,000 Kentucky Cup Turf Dash Stakes.
Atticus Kristy moved strongly to take the lead in midstretch but couldn't hold off a late-running challenger and had to settle for second place, just a head back of the winner.
It was only the second stakes start and the first stakes placing for the 4-year-old son of Atticus, who increased his career earnings to $164,445 in 21 starts--six wins, three seconds and five thirds.
Atticus Kristy has won at a variety of distances ranging from five furlongs to a mile and a sixteenth. He was bred in Kentucky by Centaur Farms, Inc., who owns him in partnership with Dan Lynch. Merrill Scherer is his trainer.
Atticus, holder of the world record of 1:31.89 for one mile, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez. Calif.--September 26.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Back in action for the first time since May, Florida Derby winner showed that he's regaining his form with a second-place finish in the $150,000 Grade 2 Jerome Handicap Sunday at Belmont Park.
The 3-year-old son of Atticus increased his career earnings to $927,300 in seven career starts with his second graded stakes placing to go with victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes.
In Sunday's one-mile Jerome, High Fly contested gamely but was unable to overtake the wire-to-wire winner, who finished five lengths in the clear.
In addition to his other achievements, High Fly set a new track record for one mile at Gulfstream Park in January in winning the ungraded Aventura Stakes.
High Fly is owned by his breeder, Live Oak Stud, and trained by Nick Zito. He's a Kentucky-bred.
High Fly is one of ten stakes horses sired by Atticus, the world-record holder at one mile, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--September 13.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Moving into added-money company for the first time, Palaestra became Atticus's tenth stakes horse with a close-up second-place finish in the $60,000 Lighthouse Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park.
After winning two allowance races and running second in another in her last four starts, Palaestra took the step up into stakes company and was rewarded with her first black type.
The 4-year-old filly moved her career earnings into six figures with her effort in the Lighthouse, bring her bankroll to $111,365 in 13 starts.
In the mile-and-70-yard Lighthouse, Palaestra raced in the middle of the nine-horse pack before mounting her challenge on the turn for home. She overtook the pacesetters but was beaten to the wire by another late closer, who prevailed by a length and a quarter.
She was bred in Kentucky by Robert N. Clay, who shares ownership with The Albert G. Clay 1990 Revocable Trust. Her trainer is John C. Kimmel.
Atticus, sire of 2005 Florida Derby winner High Fly, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--September 12.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
ARCADIA, Calif. - Even in his wildest expectations, Pablo Suarez could not have envisioned the way Atticus has been received in his debut at stud in California this year.
Because of the success of his son High Fly, a Kentucky Derby hopeful who won the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on April 2, Atticus has been booked to 85 mares at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez, Calif. The book size is likely to increase to 100 before the breeding season ends.
For Suarez, who purchased Atticus from Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky last October, the interest has been a shock. He would have settled for a considerably smaller book.
"For a first-year stallion to be doing this, this is great," Suarez said. "We have been very blessed."
Atticus was essentially overmatched as a Kentucky stallion. After entering stud in 1998, Atticus sired a few stakes winners and had more than $3 million in progeny earnings. It was not enough to draw attention in the competitive Kentucky market.
Resuming the 13-year-old Atticus's career in a regional market such as California seemed like a more sensible approach.
With the success of High Fly, who won the Aventura Stakes in January and the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 5, the calls have been pouring into Magali Farms.
After recently talking with Tom Hudson, the manager of Magali Farms, Suarez said the book is likely to be capped at 100 mares.
"Tom said, 'We need to slow down now,' " Suarez said.
Suarez, 36, the owner of a pharmaceutical wholesale business, co-owns such stakes winners as Sharp Lisa (Las Virgenes Stakes) and Thor's Echo (WinStar Derby) and was looking to extend his involvement in racing through breeding.
Atticus was one of several stallions that Suarez and Hudson considered buying last fall.
Atticus won 7 of 18 starts, four stakes, and $1,205,933, racing in Europe and the United States. By Nureyev, Atticus was a Group 3 stakes winner over a mile on turf at Longchamp in France and was second in the French 2000 Guineas in 1995.
In the U.S., his career took off. He won the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic in 1996 and two major stakes in 1997 - the Grade 1 Oaklawn Handicap and the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap. In the Arcadia at Santa Anita, he finished a mile on turf in 1:31.89. It remains the course record.
At stud, Atticus sired stakes winners in France and the U.S. in his first few crops, but had no standout runners. Still, Suarez felt like he had found the prospect he wanted.
"I didn't know much about Atticus," Suarez said. "I started really getting intrigued. I thought it was a perfect opportunity."
The deal with Three Chimneys was finalized last October for an undisclosed sum.
"I don't think I'm allowed to talk about that," Suarez said of the price.
When he arrived in California, Atticus's stud fee was lowered from $5,000 to $4,000. Suarez has sent eight mares to Atticus, including the stakes-placed runners Brocky's Dream and Lady General.
The 2005 book has only gotten stronger thanks to the success of High Fly, who has won 5 of 6 starts and $897,300 for owner-breeder Live Oak Plantation.
"I feel like he's my horse, too," Suarez said.
Barretts May catalog available
The Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training comprises 356 head on May 17. The catalog is currently available on the Internet.
Training previews will be held on May 13-14 at Fairplex Park. The first 178 hips in the catalog will be on the track on the 13th, with the remainder on the 14th.
(Source: Daily Racing Form)
High Fly, a 3-year-old son of Atticus, established himself as the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby Saturday with a victory in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
It was the fifth win in six career starts for the lightly-raced colt, whom trainer Nick Zito said will head straight for the Kentucky Derby without racing again. High Fly has earned $897,300 with three stakes wins and a third in another.
High Fly went to the post as the favorite in the Florida Derby and gave his supporters little cause to worry as he stayed close to the pace--never worse than second--before taking the lead at the eighth pole and edging away to win by a length and a half over stablemate Noble Causeway, who's also a probable Kentucky Derby starter.
High Fly was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Live Oak Stud.
Atticus, holder of the world record for one mile, stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, Calif.--April 4.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus's brilliant 3-year-old son High Fly returned impressively to the Kentucky Derby trail with a victory in Saturday's Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
After one-sided victories in his first three career starts, High Fly suffered his first loss in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on February 5 in his first effort around two turns, but he more than made up for that defeat in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at the same distance--a mile and an eighth.
Trainer Nick Zito, who took over the colt's conditioning after the Holy Bull, said that High Fly probably would make his next start in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on April 2, the final Kentucky Derby prep race in the Sunshine State. That race also will be run at 1 1/8 miles.
High Fly broke second in the field of nine in Saturday's race and took the lead coming out of the final turn, then fought off a challenge to prevail by three-quarters of a length.
"When he broke sharp, that helped us a lot, and I thought he was real impressive the way he hung in there," said Zito. "I was lucky to inherit a good horse, and I have to thank the people who had him before me, especially his previous trainer, Bill White. Fortunately he's fit into our system well."
The win increased High Fly's career earnings to $297,300. He was bred in Kentucky by his owner, Live Oak Stud.
Atticus, holder of the world record for one mile (1:31.89), stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, CA.--March 7.
(Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
After beginning his career with two sprint wins at Calder Race Course, High Fly blew away 11 rivals in his stakes debut on Saturday, surging to a nine-length win in the $125,000 Aventura Stakes for three-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
The son of Atticus rated just off the pace in the first two-turn start of his career, before collaring Drum Major for the lead at the top of the stretch and drawing away powerfully under jockey Eddie Castro to complete one mile in 1:35.88 over a fast track.
Sent away at odds of 3.10-to-1, High Fly remained undefeated in three career starts, with a combined margin of victory of 21 ¼ lengths.
“I expected him to run well, but I don’t think anybody could have expected this performance,” trainer Bill White said. “This was a little muscle-flexing. …This was the test to see if he was as good as his numbers indicated. He had never looked a really tough horse in the eye—he still hasn’t—but we’re on the right track. He’s definitely on the [Kentucky Derby (G1)] trail now, so we’ll start looking by planning two or three races ahead and see what our options are.”
Drum Major finished second, with Magna Graduate another 1 ¾ lengths back in third. Deputy Indy finished tenth as the 3-to-2 favorite.
Bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, High Fly debuted with a 9 1/4-length win in a six-furlong maiden special weight race on October 9 and followed with a three-length allowance score at 6 ½ furlongs on November 20. The $75,000 winner’s share in the Aventura pushed his career earnings to $100,800.
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)
Undefeated High Fly dominated a 12-horse field in a nine-length blowout Saturday in the $125,000 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream Park that left the Atticus colt's connections talking about the Kentucky Derby. Making his first start at two turns, High Fly took charge at the head of the stretch and romped to a nine-length victory that followed a maiden special weight win by 9 1/4 lengths and an allowance score by three lengths, both at Calder Race Course at sprint distances. His trainer, Bill White, was exuberant following the race, saying, "He's definitely on the trail now" for the Kentucky Derby. The colt was bred in Kentucky by his owner, is owned by his breeder, Live Oak Stud. High Fly is one of 68 winners sired by Atticus, holder of the world record for one mile. He stands at Magali Farms, Santa Ynez, CA.--January 10. (Source: The THOROUGHBRED SHOWCASE of the West)
Atticus Lady (# 1, 8/1) by Atticus, out of Desert Prowler, finished 1st at Pimlico on Saturday, November 27th, 2004 in Race 4.
High Fly (# 2, 4/5) by Atticus, out of Verbasle, finished 1st at Calder Race Course on Saturday, November 20th, 2004 in Race 1.
Daffodil Lil (# 4, 20/1) by Atticus, out of Stark Walk, finished 1st at Beulah Park on Sunday, November 14th, 2004 in Race 13.