Sim Trainer Stats
Sim Race Stats
|
RAY OF PYE
1999 horse, (Rahy x Cozzene x Theatrical)
Owner/Trainer: tyedye
Record:60-20-9-10; $4,221,130
Win: Rising Sun Spring Cup-G1, All Comers S-G1, Corkscrew S-G1, Autumn Gold Derby-G1, Ribot S-G1, Jacobsson S-G2, Queen Sam-G2, King George BB S-G3, Race 5 Ramblings S-G3, Up North Juvenile-G3, Dalesbark Cup-G3, Realistic Bert S, Romo Special, Tatum Canyon Challenge, Awesome H, Noble Bloom Challenge S, More Asian S.
Place: Breeders' Bowl Mile-G1, Mospe Cup-G1, Eddie Haskell-G1, Swamps S-G1, Open to the World S-G1, Boston Derby-G2, GSR Mile, Whatever For S
Show: Breeders' Bowl Juvenile Turf-G1, Florida Derby-G1, Jockey Guild Gold Cup-G1, Penn Dash-G1, Turf Invaders S-G1, Jack the Man S-G1, Arcade H-G2, Little Ones Juvenile-G2, Frari H
Ray of Pye, or ROP, as he was affectionately called by his trainer , was a constant source of attention and controversy throughout his racing career. Many a forum thread involved this striking colt and his very vocal trainer, tyedye. As a juvenile, the Pye quickly made his way onto the racing scene, breaking his maiden at first asking against a field of pretty nice youngsters, including future graded stakes winners Storm Hill and Atlantico. After winning an allowance, he would make an electrifying move from 14th to third in the Little Ones Juvenile-G3 behind top sprinter Daneye. The closing kick stamped ROP as one to follow, and he promptly backed it up by winning the Dalesbark Cup-G3 (turning the tables on Daneye) and Up North Juvenile-G3, the latter in the sharp time of 1:23 3/5 for 7 furlongs. Next came the Nationwide-G1, also at 7 furlongs and ROP ran inexplicably badly, never getting untracked, and finished ninth. Stretched out to 1 1/6 miles, he was second early, but fadedly badly in the stretch, beaten 20 lengths. Was ROP merely a sprinter with a giant closing kick? Tyedye had no doubts, wheeling his colt back in the Breeders' Bowl Juvenile, where he ran a much better race, moving from midpack to third, beaten by The Pretender and Daneye. With that question answered, the Pye returned to sprints, contesting the Open to the World Stakes-G1, where the colt put in a monster effort (101 SF), but couldn't quite catch Golfing Nijinsky, who hit the wire in 1:22 3/5 for 7 panels. In somewhat of a surprising move, ROP tried the dirt in his next start, and went wire to wire, earning a solid 93 SF. ROP closed out his juvenile campaign with 5 wins from 10 starts, and a reputation as one of the better turf colts in the division.
Despite winning on the dirt, ROP would return to the turf in his seasonal debut, and never fired, finishing a dull fifth. It wasn't the best prep for the Equinics, but it was a different story for the big dance. The Pye represented the East West Connection with distinction, bringing home the gold medal in the Ribot Stakes at 9 furlongs, going from 10th to first, and looking like he loved every bit of the extra distance. The leggy colt would win another 9 furlong stakes, and then took a detour onto the Derby trail, going postward in the Florida Derby-G1. Sent off the 7-1 third choice, ROP made his usual late charge, but ran out of ground, ending up third behind Fusaichi Devil and Tower Storm. Encouraged by that effort, ROP would next appear in the Corkscrew Stakes-G1 two weeks later. This time, he would move from eleventh to first, but English Castle was stuck right to his saddle the whole way around, moving from twelfth, and ROP was all out to win by a determined 1/2 length, with a final time of 1:48 3/5. Most Derby bound colts would take a little breather and fit in only one more prep prior to the Derby, but the Pye would return two weeks later in the Autumn Gold Derby-G1. Tyedye's colt would win again, this time by three easy lengths. Rather than resting for the Derby, which was only four weeks away, the colt would race one more time, this time in the Sydney Derby-G1 at 12 furlongs on the turf, a rather unorthodox approach. He would run an even fifth, and on Derby Day, never fired, finishing a dull and distant ninth behind Tower Storm. Some questioned whether his heavy racing schedule made the difference; others commented that ROP looked to be a tired colt. He would wheel back two weeks later in the Middle Jewel, but the results were no better. Two weeks later, he would drop into an ungraded stakes at a mile on the turf, and ROP showed he was one tough colt - winning by 3 1/2 lengths with the sensational time of 1:34 1/5 for the mile (117 SF), this after a steady diet of racing every other week. He would capture another ungraded stakes on the turf, then take another swipe at the dirt division, finishing second behind Seattledancing Joe (who ran the race of his life) in the G1 Swamps, and then beaten a heartbreaking nose, falling just a stride short behind the frontrunning Fusaichi Gulch in the Eddie Haskell S-G1. Two weeks later, ROP would cut back from 1 1/4 miles to 7 furlongs, which didn't work so well, as he was never a factor in the Prince's Knight-G1. Tyedye pressed onward, and two weeks later, ROP would finish a best of the rest second in the Boston Derby-G2, and would finish second again in the Mospe Cup-G1 behind Daneye three weeks later. Two weeks later, Ray of Pye would finish a distant sixth in the Jockey Guild Gold Cup-G1 behind older horses, and used that as a most unconventional prep for the Breeders' Bowl Mile-G1 two weeks later. As usual, the sophomore gave it his all, and took the lead at the top of the stretch, but ultimately could not hold off the great Storm Dog for the win. He would run four more times that year, but would not win again. Ray of Pye made 22 starts, and held up better than most horses under such a schedule, tackling turf, dirt, and everything from 7 furlongs to 1 1/2 miles.
Tyedye gave ROP no time to rest after his 2002 exploits, sending him postward two weeks after his seasonal finale. The colt finished second in an ungraded stakes. That loss was parlayed into one of the Pye's best efforts, a 3 1/4 length win in the Race 5 Ramblings Stakes-G3, with a time of 1:33 2/5 for the mile (125 SF). ROP flopped next out, but whether it was a bounce, the off going, or a little of both, was hard to say. He would win an ungraded stakes, and then finished third in the Arcade Handicap-G2. Off to Dubai two weeks later, he would flop badly, and was distanced. Given a rare five week break after that setback, ROP responded, capturing the All Comers S-G1 after uncharacteristically dashing to the front and making every pole a winning one. Two weeks later, he would once again toy with a good field which included Daneye, Golfing Nijinsky, Slingblade Edison, Pro Saint and Nine Bold Rubies, winning the Rising Sun Spring Cup-G1 at 7 furlongs, with a time of 1:21 1/5 (119 SF) for 7 furlongs. Stretched out to 1 1/4 miles, he led the Movieland Turf Cup-G1 a merry dance the first mile or so, but faded badly in the stretch to finish fourth. A one furlong cut back made all the difference, as the big colt went wire to wire once again in the King George BB Stakes-G3, with a time of 1:47 1/5 (120 SF) over Making the Cat, Cad Crop and The Pretender. Two weeks later, ROP would turn in another stellar effort, winning the Queen Sam-G2, with a 1:33 3/5 (124 SF). Volotile Nijinsky was third in that race. It was the high water mark in his career. In the span of eight weeks, ROP had won four graded stakes races, all with speed figures of 116 or better. Residency duties called, and the Pye would finish second in the Nexis Mile. After that, ROP was third in the Turf Invaders Stakes behind Cool Bro and Sunken Treasure. After that came some frustrating performances where Ray of Pye turned in solid efforts, but simply was not best that day. It would take a return to the allowance ranks to get the Pye back into the winners circle. He would return to the Jockey Guild Gold Cup-G1, and finished a good third this time around. Instead of returning to the Mile, where most of his best efforts had occurred, tyedye sent ROP to the Breeders' Bowl Classic, where he never fired. ROP would win once more that year, in the Jacobssen Stakes-G2 with a time of 1:41 1.5 for the 1 1/16 miles on the lawn. It had been an uneven year, but when Ray of Pye was good, he was one of the best in the game.
At five, ROP would win his seasonal debut, in an ungraded stakes, however, the heavy racing schedule was finally wearing on the big guy. After finishing third in the Buddy Boy Mile-G2 behind Ziklag and Keep the Faith, the wheels came off. Four dismal efforts followed, never hitting the board, and worse, never posting a speed figure above. The writing was on the wall, and so, after 60 starts in a little more than three years, Ray of Pye was retired.
The Pye was talented and capable of big efforts even with his heavy campaigns (and possibly could have had an even better record with a little more time between races). His versatility over all distances and surfaces was also remarkable. Ray of Pye, was inducted into the Hall by the Old Timers Committee.
Ray of Pye's daughter, Ray of Spy, by War Chant, was a three-time winner, but didn't even come close to Ray's achievements. To date, she has four foals.
Return To 2010 List |
