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Sim Trainer Stats Sim Race Stats |
HUGE TALE Owner/Trainer: tfv Record: 67-23-16-9, $5,152,920
Win: Breeders’ Bowl Mile-G1, Sand Castle Fee Duty-G1, United Countries Handicap-G1, Eddie O Cap-G1, Sword Swallower Stakes-G1, Classic Turf-G1, [ x ] Stakes-G1, Pan Americana Handicap-G2, Marcos Footwear Handicap-G2, High Lady Cup-G3, Explosive Bet Stakes-G3, Vendor Challenge Stakes, Iron Peg Special, Turn of Coin Challenge, More Bold Times Special, Sooner-Husker Stakes, Faster Than Quick Stakes. Place: Movieland Turf Cup-G1, Canada Turf-G1, Florida Track Cap-G1, Mike Smith Cap-G2, Japan All Comers-G2, Carlton Fisk Handicap-G3, Bottle Rocket Stakes-G3, Slow Tree Special-G3, Piaster Handicap, Agressive Hawk Stakes, All of A Sudden Special, Vite Cheval Challenge Stakes. Show: Full Blitz Special, Daring Damascus Stakes, Altazarr Handicap, Young Native Special. Tfv became the first trainer to have two horses in the Hall of Fame, with Blue Ant as the other inductee. Huge Tale was named in part for his tall, imposing looks. It had taken time for this horse, who looked like a steeplechaser, to make it to the track, and it was not until he was six, an age where many horses are retired, that he first set hoof onto the track. But, a good horse is always worth the wait. Huge Tale would go unbeaten in his first two starts, both on the main track, but it was on the turf that he would achieve immortality. In his first start on that surface, Huge Tale would run into another future star, chasing Mine Forest around the track in the G1 Movieland Turf Cup, but stuck in second throughout. Two more seconds would follow, but his connections had no doubts - the lawn was where this son of Nureyev needed to be. And faith was rewarded, A win came in the Sooner-Husker Stakes, and then another tilt against grade one competition, this time in the Eddie O. Huge Tale and Enough Knock would put on a show, Enough Knock daring the rest of the field to catch him, Huge Tale steadily grinding away at the four length lead. A brief tussle ensued, but it was quickly over, as Huge Tale burst away to a six length score, posting a 115 SF for the nine furlongs. Next came the G1 Sword Swallower, but the additional distance didn’t matter. Once again, Huge Tale stalked the early pace before swooping in for the kill, winning this event by four lengths, while being virtually eased at the wire. Another win came in a Pennsylvania stakes, then off to Japan, where he briefly grabbed the lead, but could not withstand the late charge of Prosperous Outback and had to settle for second. Huge Tale would turn the tables on that rival in the G1 Classic Turf, romping home six lengths in front. Huge Tale would become a bit rank in his next several starts, no longer content to rate behind the leader, and it would cost him. First, he was beaten by the filly Seattle Hit in the G1 Canada Turf, then faded to sixth in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf, after opening up a three length lead on the backstretch. Two more losses would follow, and with it, Huge Tale’s hopes of a championship title, losing to Enough Knock in the balloting. After some schooling, Huge Tale was back to his old self in his 2000 seasonal debut, rating in third early before making his patented sweeping move on the turn to win the G2 Marcos Footwear Handicap, defeating Writer Orange. Another turf stakes win would follow, then a switch to the main track, a surface Huge Tale had not seen since the beginning of his racing career. The seven year old was gallant in defeat, finishing a best of the rest second behind old rival Enough Knock, posting a 105 SF for the 10 furlongs. Still, it wasn’t quite enough, and so Huge Tale returned to his beloved turf, where he shot to the lead in the 12 furlong G2 Pan Americana. Concerns were high that the star horse would once again fade after his early exertions, but this time, the early lead was because Huge Tale was simply that good, as he would draw off to a seven length victory. Shortened up to 9 furlongs, Huge Tale won the G3 Explosive Bet with a solid 116 SF. He would lose his next start, but when shipped across the globe to Dubai, responded with another runaway victory, this time by 8 lengths as he took the G1 Sand Castle Fee Duty. A quick trip back after all that shipping resulted in an understandable bounce, and then another loss. But, in the G3 High Lady Cup, Huge Tale would redeem himself, posting a monster 1:33 3/5 (124 SF) for the flat mile. Two poor efforts would follow, including a sprint debut, but back at 9 furlongs on the turf, Huge Tale was all business, adding another G1 event to his resume. He was a bit rank in the G3 Carlton Fisk, and ended up wearying from those early efforts, as the lightly weighted Every Raise passed him in the stretch to win by five. It was unclear which way the horse would go - the Mile, or the Turf - as Huge Tale was proven at both distances. His connections elected for the Breeders’ Bowl Mile, and there was no second guessing. Huge Tale would battle with Duke Ali early and School Kris late, but he made every stride a winning one in claiming the title. Huge Tale put up a 120 SF in the process. In his final start of the season, Huge Tale would once again be rank early, and it was a costly error, as he faded to tenth in the Japan Classic, and lost out to School Kris for championship honors. Still it had been a tremendous season. His next four seasons would not compare to the campaigns Huge Tale had in his prime. Racing mostly in allowances, the chestnut would win the Vendor Challenge and the Iron Peg Special, the latter with a brisk 112 SF for 9 furlongs on the lawn, place in several minor stakes, and win several other allowances. During this time period, Huge Tale would compile a record of 35-7-6-9, and go 17-2-2-4 in stakes. The gradual slowing down due to age and wear and tear in no way changes what Huge Tale accomplished during his first two seasons, as one of the most talented and versatile turf runners in the sim, who could shorten up to win the Breeders’ Bowl Mile, win the middle distance Sand Castle Fee Duty and Eddie O, and stretch out to win the classic Sword Swallower and Classic Turf. He also achieved a reputation for pouring it on - no narrow margins of victories for him; instead he would leave daylight between himself and his nearest competitor. The star campaigner would retire at age 11, after finishing third in his career finale. |
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