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Sim Trainer Stats Sim Race Stats |
ALLIED ASSAULT Owner/Trainer: masterab Record: 40-23-11-2; $9,808,640
Win: Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1, Penn Marathon-G1 (3x), Coalminer Cup-G1, Victoria Plate-G1, Canada Gold Rush Stakes-G1, South Is King Stakes-G1, California Turf Stars Stakes-G1, Louisiana Turf Classic-G1, California Classic-G1, John Scott Appreciation Stakes-G1, Owner’s Stakes-G1, Wittingham Memorial-G2, Northern Lights Stakes-G3, Fernazzle Classic Cup-G3, Snowchief Special Stakes, Techranger Special Stakes, Diamond Sword Special Stakes, Splendid Grace Stakes, Storm Cat Handicap. Place: Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1, Japan Cup-G1, John Scott Appreciation Stakes-G1, King of California Stakes-G1, Man o’War Stakes-G1, Sword Swallower Stakes-G1(2x), United Countries Handicap-G1, Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic-G1, Gold Coast Stakes-G1, Gaelic Action Handicap. Show: Will’s Way Stakes, Saint Tropez Special Stakes. Allied Assault arrived in masterab’s stables with high hopes. But even the most ambitious, perhaps, could not have envisioned the heights this rangy son of War Chant would hit. Campaigned by one of the best in the game, Allied Assault began his career in promising, although not spectacular fashion, earning two wins and finishing third twice in a pair of minor stakes, from four starts. That said, those races would prove to be tougher than they first appeared. For example, in AA’s debut maiden win, two other future Grade 1 winners were in the field: Solaguen and Revelation II. He earned some fine speed figures for a juvenile, breaking the 90 SF mark twice, and gave every indication that he would improve even farther, once stretched out to routes. And, boy, did he ever. The handsome colt with the look of eagles earned his first stakes win in his sophomore debut, capturing the one mile Storm Cat Stakes by a little more than a length, after lagging in last early on. This blazing late kick would be on prominent display throughout the year. After a disappointing attempt in a graded stakes, Allied Assault would work his way through a series of nongraded stakes, with the distance steadily extending to 10 furlongs. With three wins and a second under his belt, the colt’s, and trainer’s confidence was high, and it was time to return to the graded ranks. The race was the G3 Fernazzle Classic Cup, and in that race, a star was born. Allied Assault would swoop past the rest of the field like they were standing still, and drew off with a flourish to win by 4 ½ lengths. Final time for the 10 panels was an impressive 2:01 flat (116 SF). The colt would have another easy victory in the Snow Chief Stakes while prepping for his Grade 1 debut. The Derbies and Darbies were over, but the G1 Owners’ Stakes beckoned. Once again, Allied Assault unleashed a closing kick and drew off in a race by himself, with only the clock for competition, stopping the clock in 2:29 2/5 for the 12 furlongs (118 SF). The second place finisher, Kepler Sin, was left floundering more than seven lengths in his wake. The promising juvenile had transformed into a monster at the classic distances. Next came the G2 Wittingham Classic, and while the field was small, it was immensely talented, with graded winners Kayla’s Missile, D C Savage, Big Red Niner, Tow Phone and Yew all in the line-up. It didn’t matter, as Fred Gossett sat chilly on the big colt, and he once again kicked clear of the field to win by more than four lengths, this time posting a 123 SF. The top sophomores would stay away in the G3 Northern Lights, and Allied Assault would have the easiest of preps for the Breeders’ Bowl Turf, storming home more than four lengths in front, and once again smashing through the 120 SF barrier. Still, there were questions to be answered going into the big dance, as AA would be facing his elders. But, in the absence of Joe Cayenne, there was no dominant older turf horse, and Allied Assault’s flashy speed figures could not be ignored. The fans piled on, and sent Masterab’s charge off as the 4-1 favorite. Those odds would look like a gift. The star marathoner Dante had taken the lead at the top of the stretch, but could not withstand the stretch run of his younger rival, and AA would surge to the lead, winning by almost two lengths at the wire. It might not have been as dominating as some of the wins against his own age, but there was no doubt as to who was the best horse. Allied Assault would ship to Japan, where he would run another fine race in the G1 Japan Classic, but Bristol Rovers, a great horse in his own right, but overshadowed most of his career by Allied Assault and Sunnybank Memorial, would run a great once, posting a 123 SF, and finishing an emphatic 5 3/4 lengths ahead of the Breeders’ Bowl hero. In his season finale, Allied Assault would begin his love affair with the G1 Penn Marathon, held on DelPenn Champions Day, defeating the likes of Russ, Dante, Paper Soap Co., Green Bow and Hampton Park. Final time for the 12 furlongs was an extraordinary 2:28 3/5 (123 SF). The colt was done racing for the year, but the honors piled on, as Allied Assault would capture Champion Turf Horse, losing Horse of the Year to Triple Crown winner I Seek U, and Masterab would be nominated for Trainer of the Year. As defending champ, expectations were high. Allied Assault’s four year old campaign would begin on a slightly sour note, with a fourth place finish in a G1 event. But, in his next start, AA would fall just short in the 11 furlong G1 The Gold Coast Stakes, his late kick not quite able to get him past Her Freaks. Returned to 12 panels was just what the doctor ordered, and the son of War Chant responded with a 123 SF and a two length score in the G1 John Scott Appreciation Stakes, defeating Russ, Salfly’s Well, Loup Garou, and Black Hank. Shipped to Dubai for the rich Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic Stakes, and a rematch with Bristol Rovers, the stakes were high. However, Cassell would give Bristol Rovers a clever ride, opening up a 6 ½ length uncontested lead at the midway point, and while a late kick is many things, it is not helpful to overcoming that type of pace scenario, and so Bristol Rovers would take his record against the champ to 2-0. Allied Assault would make up seven lengths in the stretch, but still fall more than four lengths short. Make no mistake, though, Bristol Rovers still put up a dazzling effort, posting a 116 SF in the process. Returned to United States, Allied Assault would once again return to the top of his game, winning the G1 California Classic and Louisiana Classic. In the latter race, the four year old would finally turn the tables on Bristol Rovers. While AA would go on to win by two lengths with a 122 SF, Bristol Rovers could manage only fourth, beaten more than 39 lengths in an absolute clunker of a race. The win streak didn’t last, however. In a frustrating summer, Allied Assault would finish second in three consecutive G1 races, each time putting in what could easily have been a winning performance, only to be outdone by a horse who had a little more that day; his devastating late kick making him vulnerable to pace. In the United Countries, Ebro opened up a nine length lead and never looked back. Allied Assault would make up 13 lengths in the stretch, but still fall five lengths short. Teddy’s Republics turned in a career performance in the Sword Swallower Stakes, and a reinvigorated Bristol Rovers would hold AA safe by a diminishing ½ length in a memorable Man O’ War, with AA having made up an astounding 17 lengths during the stretch run. The pair would earn a 128 SF as they hit the line, with the third place finisher 13 lengths further back. In his next start, Allied Assault encountered an off-track for the first time, and while his connections and his fans may have held their breath, the champ showed that he didn’t need a particular type of footing, winning handily by more than five lengths with a 118 SF. While Allied Assault had been trading blows with Bristol Rovers and others in the older horse division, a rising star had emerged in the 3yo ranks, much like AA the year before. His name: Sunnybank Memorial. The pair would meet for the first time in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf, and the fans made AA the 2/1 favorite, with Bristol Rovers the second choice, and Memo the third choice at 6/1. Memo’s tactical speed proved key, as he stalked the pace in third before accelerating smoothly to the lead. AA. 10 lengths further back, was simply left with too much to do, although he came flying at the end to finish second, just two lengths behind his younger rival. Allied Assault would turn the tables at his favorite hunting ground, Pennsylvania, with a repeat win the Penn Marathon, defeating Memo by three lengths, with the star filly Turning Japanese in third. While perhaps AA hadn’t quite hit the heights of the year before, he brought his A game every time, and was never disgraced in defeat. The consolation prize would be an Eclipse Award as trainer of the year for Masterab. Now five, the champ would begin the season as he ended the last, with a G1 win. This one came in the California Turf Stars Stakes, defeating the classy mare Grand Caffreys, and familiar rival Ebro. His next start would be a rematch with Memo, in the G1 John Scott Appreciation Stakes. Allied Assault could not quite make up the needed lengths in the stretch, and was 1 ½ lengths shy of defending his title, although he did narrow the gap from 8 lengths on his rival. Once again, Memo’s tactical speed gave him the edge. In the G1 King of California Stakes, AA would fly down the stretch, closing a 12 ½ length gap to pass graded stakes winner Militant, but could not quite get to Bright Sunset, finishing a length behind that rival. A return to Louisiana would do the trick, as Allied Assault once again dazzled his legion of fans by making up 10 lengths, then pulling away to win by more than three lengths. Another G1 win came in the Canada Gold Rush Stakes, with G1 winners Hey Zeus and Dancin In Seattle filling out the minor awards. The win left AA and Memo in a tie for second, behind Joe Cayenne, for the most G1 victories, each with 11. Next came the Victoria Plate, and AA scored a popular (odds of 0.50 to 1) coup in garnering G1 win #12. Only one more G1 win, and the champ would tie Joe Cayenne. AA would head to New York to seek that important victory, hoping to improve on his second place finish the year before. He would have to get past Memo to do it, and that task proved to be a bit too much, as he finished two lengths behind that foe. Masterab then took the radical step of training Allied Assault up to the Breeders’ Bowl Turf, eleven weeks away. That strategy failed to pay off, as AA was a dull sixth, and never showed any of his characteristic late spark. The G1 Japan Classic was a similar affair, but returned to Pennsylvania, that magic sparkled through once more, as Allied Assault would bow out with a 2 ½ length score and a three-peat in the Penn Marathon, defeating an all-star field consisting of Rain God, Sunnybank Memorial, Jupiter’s Moons and DC Savage. While some clamored for the champ to keep racing, it was somehow fitting that the star end his career in this race. Interestingly, while Allied Assault never tried dirt during his racing career, despite a pedigree that suggested he could handle that surface, he was sent to Ghostzapper, a notable dirt runner. Allied Assault retired with 13 G1 wins, tied with Joe Cayenne, and behind only Sunnybank Memorial as of this writing, and sustained his high class form for three straight years, a remarkable testament to both horse and trainer. Allied Assault proved a worthy successor to Joe Cayenne and issued in an era of several dominant turf marathoners. He will be remembered for all of these accomplishments. Return To 2006 List |
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