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Sim Trainer Stats Sim Race Stats |
HORSESHOE BAY Owner/Trainer: texasace Record: 41-22-5-5; $10,541,195
Win: Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1(2x), Ark de Triumph-G1, Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic-G1, Prix du Jockey Club-G1, Owner’s Stakes-G1, Sim Sports Irish Derby-G1, Derby de English-G1, Adelaide Derby-G1, Sydney Derby-G1, Sword Swallower Stakes-G1, John Scott Appreciation Stakes-G1, Horseshoe-G1, San Francisco Capitan Handicap-G1, Lots of Luck-G1, Couldn’t Train A Frog To Jump-G1, Shimko Classic-G2, Wooden Opossum Special, Super Tyler Special. Place: DPCD V Penn Allied Assault-G1, Man o’War Stakes-G1, San Francisco Capitan Handicap-G1, Who Cares Anymore-G1, Pine Ransom Stakes. Show: Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1, Open to All Older Horses Special-G1, High Flyer Stakes-G1, U Want A Piece of Me-G1. Horseshoe Bay is named for a resort in the Texas hill country, which is fitting given his owner’s Texas connections. This son of Red Ransom, affectionately known as Bay Bay, has provided his owner/trainer, and racing, a taste of the high life, with the sort of remarkable career that only comes along once in a while, and is to be enjoyed while it lasts. As a juvenile, the stocky, compact colt displayed the late kick that would become his patented trademark. Talent, rather than any real precocity, would see him first to the wire in each of his first three starts, including a pair of sprint stakes. Stepped up to Grade 1 competition, Horseshoe Bay, would make a solid move from tenth to third, but never threatened stablemate Like A Porcupine. A similar result occurred in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf, which Like A Porcupine also won, with future rival Jupiter’s Moons in second. Bay Bay had languished in last most of the way, making a mild move to grab seventh. It would be the same result in his season finale. Returned to sprints, Horseshoe Bay raced in 19th most of the way, before passing tired horses to finish seventh behind General’s Chariot, probably one of the best, if not the best, turf sprinters in the game. Not a bad campaign, but clearly the second best two year old in the barn. Fast forward a year, and how things would change! Texasace took a conservative approach with his charge as the sophomore season commenced. A pair of easy, confidence building allowances kicked off the year. Stretched out to 10 furlongs, Horseshoe Bay closed from seventh to second in the Pine Ransom Stakes, then was second again, making up 11 ½ lengths in the stretch, in a restricted allowance. Next up came the Sydney Derby-G1, and Horseshoe Bay was about to go prime time. Dismissed by the bettors, Bay Bay lagged in 10th most of the way, dropping more than ten lengths out of it. But, as the field turned for home, the colt began his tremendous late kick, gobbling up runners, ultimately sweeping past Jupiter’s Moons and storming home a four length winner. He would earn a solid 105 SF for the 1 ½ miles, and a star was clearly looming on the horizon. Horseshoe Bay would prove that win was no fluke in the Adelaide Derby-G1. His performance was nearly a carbon copy of Sydney, dropping more than 16 lengths out of it before once again laughing at the opposition to come home under wraps, 4 ¼ lengths in front. A rematch with Jupiter’s Moons awaited in the Derby de English-G1, and once again, the rest of the field had no change. The stocky colt once again swept by the field from the outside, spotting them the rail, to defeat Jupiter’s Moons by 3 ¼ lengths, earning a 108 SF. The comparisons to Allied Assault and Sunnybank Memorial grew ever louder. The Irish Derby-G1 was next, and the races were beginning to look like carbon copies. Once again, Horseshoe Bay would rally from the clouds, and once again, Jupiter’s Moons was on the losing end, although this time, the margin was just a mere length. Thus encouraged, Jupiter’s Moons’ connections decided to take one more tilt at texasace’s star colt in the Owner’s Stakes. It was not to be. Horseshoe Bay came home a 2 ½ length winner, while Jupiter’s Moons could only finish third (away from his nemesis, Jupiter’s Moons would later go on to defeat older horses in the Canadian Turf-G1). Another victory would put him over the top. The venue was the Prix du Jockey Club-G1, and while Jupiter’s Moons would not be in the line up, an up and coming colt named Rapid Grey would take the stage, along with another challenger in Sip of Saki. This streak would not be meekly handed over. And yet, at the end of the day, that is exactly what happened. Another late rally, and the sophomore once again stormed home first, this time by 3 ¾ lengths over Rapid Grey. A new record for consecutive grade 1 wins had been set by Bay Bay in what had been a simply sensational spring and summer. The streak would come to an end with a dull seventh place finish in the Coalminer Cup-G1, as the colt lagged in last and never really engaged a top caliber field. Ahead of him, Minesweeper would beat fellow inductee Krishna. And so the stage was set for a Breeders’ Bowl Turf for the ages. Allied Assault, Sunnybank Memorial, Rain God and Bristol Rovers (all future Hall of Famers) were in the field. Fans didn’t quite know what to make of the star three year old. He had been dominant in his division, but his poor showing against older horses raised questions. Was it a bounce, or a sign of things to come? Dismissed at generous odds of 13-1, it turned out that youth will be served. More than 16 lengths behind at one point, Bay Bay got engaged, and when the booster rocket hit, he simply took off, passing his elders with ease, and hitting the line three lengths ahead of a pacesetting Rain God. Sunnybank Memorial was fourth, Bristol Rovers fifth and Allied Assault sixth. Horseshoe Bay would race once more that season, but was a dull eighth in the Japan Cup-G1, with Jupiter’s Moons finally turning the tables. The race was disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things, it was a minor blip on what had been a season for the ages. Nine wins, seven of them in grade 1 events. The fans responded, with a boatload of hardware going his way: Champion 3yo Colt, Champion Turf Horse and Horse of the Year all went to Bay Bay and his connections. The pressure was on at the start of his four year old season. Could Bay Bay keep this pace up, particularly with such a deep pool of talent in the turf long division? The question was quickly answered as the compact colt won the Couldn’t Train A Frog To Jump Stakes-G1 over the star filly Turning Japanese. Next was a tilt at the Equinics, but Bristol Rovers, one of the best wet turf specialists ever to grace the track, would not be denied, while Horseshoe Bay had to settle for fifth, behind Confederacy and Sunnybank Memorial. Bay Bay quickly put the off track rumors to rest, as he showed he could carry his A game over a yielding course in the John Scott Appreciation Stakes-G1, defeating Memo by 2 ½ lengths in the process, scoring a smart 110 SF for the 1 ½ miles. A three week turnaround to Dubai proved to be a bit much, and so Bay Bay had to settle for fourth, but was hardly disgraced, as the first three spots were filled by Puppet Regime, Rapid Grey and Confederacy. Horseshoe Bay would turn the tables on those rivals in the San Francisco Capitan Handicap-G1, with Rain God finishing second. Despite posting consistent numbers and competing at the highest level, texasace’s goal was a repeat of the Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1, and so he did what few other trainers would – the horse got a 10 week break. Some questioned the move, that is, until he came roaring back in the Lots of Luck-G1 with yet another victory over Rapid Grey and Jupiter’s Moons. Puppet Regime would once again fall victim to the Red Ransom colt, this time in the Sword Swallower Stakes-G1. The four year old would post a 112 SF in that effort. Next would come another historic meeting with Sunnybank Memorial in the Man of War Stakes-G1, but this time, the older rival would come away with the win, outfinishing Bay Bay by 1 ¼ lengths. On to the Ark De Triumph-G1, where Lex Luthor, this year’s version of Horseshoe Bay, looked to take on older rivals. Lex Luthor failed to succeed, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Under a smart ride, he had opened up a 7 ½ length lead on the rest of the field nearing the top of the stretch, and appeared to be home free. But, Bay Bay exploded, reeling him in with every stride, and would ultimately win by 3 ½ lengths. Jupiter’s Moons would finish third. Horseshoe Bay looked every bit the defending champion in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf-G1 post parade, and the win was never really in doubt. Again, Bay Bay would unveil his patented late charge, and once again caught Lex Luthor, despite that younger rival opening up a 9 ¾ length lead. The fans were thrilled by the performance, and an all-star field followed the first two home: Cortez, Extortionist, Rapid Grey, Puppet Regime, Rain God, Sunnybank Memorial, Director, Confederacy, Band of Budas, and Confederacy – all millionaires, all Grade 1 winners. Once again, post Cup was a bit of a let down, as Bay Bay would finish third in the DPCD V Penn Allied Assault-G1 behind Confederacy and Sunnybank Memorial. However, like last year, it was just a smudge on another sensational season. Seven more wins, all at the grade one level, and four losses. The performance was good enough to result in Older Turf Horse honors in a year filled with superb turf horses – from Seeking Sal to General’s Chariot, to the other future Hall of Famers. But, Bay Bay stood head and shoulders above the rest. Horseshoe Bay would return for one more season. Despite the lackadaisical title of his comeback race, the Who Cares Anymore?-G1, Bay Bay showed that he did care, digging in deep, but not quite getting there, making up seven lengths in the stretch to finish second behind Western Sculpture. Cut back to 10 furlongs, the compact horse could only manage third in another grade one, but quickly made amends when returned to his favorite distance, scoring a win in the rich Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic-G1 over a stellar field that included Strong Belwas, Total Chaos, Cortez, Puppet Regime and Confederacy. Ottoman Turks would get away with a nine length lead in the San Francisco Capitan Handicap-G1, that proved a bit too much for Bay Bay to overcome, although he tried valiantly to make up the difference, finishing second by two. He would go on to defeat Confederacy in the Horseshoe-G1 by 5 ½ lengths, then was third with a belated rally in the U Want A Piece of Me-G1. Dropped to grade two company for the first time in forever, Horseshoe Bay won the Shimko Classic over Rosenthal and Minesweeper, posting a sparkling 115 SF in the process. Horseshoe Bay’s Breeders’ Bowl prep was a dull effort, but the horse gave it his all in his attempt to land an unprecedented hattrick in the race. Flying late, Bay Bay charged hard, making up 10 lengths, but was ultimately denied, finishing third behind Lex Luthor (who finally turned the tables on his older rival) and Ottoman Turks. Horseshoe Bay would finish out the year with two off-the-board performances. He was not disgraced in either effort, but clearly, when you are used to dominating, it is a bit offputting. His connections decided that the star had done everything that they had asked him to do, and it was time. In addition to all of the end-of-the-year honors, Horseshoe Bay retired as the 4th richest horse ever to race (now 6th), second behind only Sunnybank Memorial, with 16 grade one wins, and the holder of the longest consecutive grade one win streak. His son, Ram Rock, as of this writing has two wins from six starts. Regardless of what Ram Rock ultimately does on the track, Bay Bay has carved a legacy that will not soon be forgotten. |
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