We are now less than two weeks away from the 30th
Arlington Million! To get all of us ready for the epic race, let’s profile a worthy
contender that will likely be joining us on August 18th.
Rahystrada: Rahy – Ministrada by Deputy Minister
This
8 year old gelding has had a very successful career to
this point. With over $1.1 million in total earnings he is scheduled to make
his third appearance in the
Arlington Million in a couple of weeks.
(Rahystrada wins the Arlington Handicap! - photo by Four Footed Fotos)
It’s no surprise that this horse has been so successful on
the turf, especially if you were to simply look at the pedigree. His father,
Rahy, began his career over in Europe where he finished off the board only once
as a two and three year old. He won his first ever race and had a great stakes
record as a two year old. As a four year old he came over to America and
completed his career with three victories including a Grade 2 victory in the
Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park. He also had two place finishes in the
Ramser and the Goodwood handicaps at Santa Anita. His broodmare sire,
Ministrada, was a very successful colt as well. As a two year old, Ministrada
won eight of his first nine races ever! He completed his successful career
winning the Gulfstream Sprint Championship Handicap, the Donn, and the Tom Fool
all as a four year old.
Fast forward to 2004 when
Rahystrada was foaled and to 2006
when he won his first race as a two year old. Rahystrada actually only missed
the board once in his first eight races! However his true success didn’t show
until late into his five year old campaign. This is when Rahystrada really
started to get things together. Coming along with two allowance victories and
another in the claiming ranks, he won the Grade 3 River City Handicap at
Churchill Downs. Along the way to where we are now, Rahystrada has won the
Colonial Turf Cup Stakes, The Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes, and the
Arlington Handicap…TWICE! He also showed very good form in both of his Arlington Million
appearances with a 4
th place finish in 2010 and a 5
th
place finish in 2011.
This horse is certainly getting finer with age and I hope he
has another good showing at this year’s Million!
Stay tuned for another Million Day profile coming soon!
**CHECK THIS OUT**
You don’t think I would leave out the latest in the “Behind
the Silks” series, did you?