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Forty Niner

27 year old Horse | Retired

1 fan

3 favorites

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Owner(s):

Claiborne Farm

Trainer:

Woodford C. Stephens

Bred:

Kentucky (USA) by Claiborne Farm

Pedigree:

Mr. Prospector - File by Tom Rolfe

Rating:

8.26/10

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Log

What the Nation is saying about Forty Niner...

Travers, Still Top Dog

Travers or Haskell? One blogger still prefers the Travers, and the classic 1 1/4 mile distance...Read More

Posted 198 days ago ·

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LAZMANICK · I have always considered the Haskell as a prep for the Travers, the Summer Derby and I guess that Kiaran McLaughlin does to when he said that he will train Rattlesnake Ridge up to the Travers instead of running in the Haskell. Often you get a good horse or two in it but not a lot of depth. This year for sure has to be one of the deepest fields I can recall with most having a legitimate shot of winning the race. One thing that is starting to stand out for me is that many trainers are leaning towards the 9F distance of the Haskell as opposed to the 10F of the Travers. The depth this year suggests that many that will be running in it might be suspect at the 10F distance. · 198 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · The last few years have gotten deeper and deeper in terms of talent running in the Haskell. Last year was a very good year, so was 2009. 2007 was also a great year for that race too. However, as I said Travers is an awesome race and event. It is the best race of the summer · 198 days ago ·

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LAZMANICK · DeadHeat.....I might be wrong, but isn't the Travers considred to be the signature race of the greatest race meet in North America? · 198 days ago ·

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benrametta · Will be at the top of stretch to watch this one with my running buddy Pozzouli. We are biased since this track is in our backyard but Travers I believe is the All Star Game and The Haskell is the junior varsity version. There may be a few 3 YO's with some talent is the Haskell but the Summer Derby is always stacked. I've been to both events and although this is anecdotal, I saw more NJ license plates transplanted in the Toga parking than I did NY plates at Monmouth. · 197 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · Laz, I don't know where I said it was not, in fact in my blog i'm advocating for it. However, you in your first comment said the Haskell lacks much depth and only draws one or two good horses, when it has drawn several deep fields in the last couple years. 07 drew Hard Spund, Curlin, and Any Given Saturday. 09 had several stakes winners including The Preakness and Belmont winners. Last year drew the Derby runner-up, along with both the Preakness winner and second place finisher. My point was the Haskell has proven to draw deep fields, just as the Travers does, but that does not in any way change the fact that the Travers is still the race to win. · 197 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · Already debating Haskell v. Travers, wait until you see the POINT/COUNTER POINT! · 197 days ago ·

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Mike in SB · The Travers is the greatest race for three year olds, except maybe for the Triple Crown races, and what makes it special is the 1 1/4 mile distance. One of the worst trends in racing today is the shortening of the major races. It seems like every race today is 1 1/8 miles, our champion horses need to prove themselves at the American classic distance of 1 1/4 miles. · 197 days ago ·

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LAZMANICK · DeadHeat……….I’m not trying to argue with you and I’m no saying that you commented one way or another. I just wondered if you had ever heard of anyone calling the Travers Saratoga’s signature race. Regarding the fields for the Haskell. They seem to be getting deeper with talent in the past few years than they used to be and I think that one reason is the 9F distance. I also agree with Mike that the Travers is the greatest race for three year olds outside the Triple Crown. The Haskell to me has always been like a Blue Grass or a Florida Derby or a Wood Memorial, a top G1, but not on the same level as the TC races and the Travers. · 197 days ago ·

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DeadHeat · I have heard it called that and I most certainly believe in that name. However, I would disagree with you on the level of the Haskell. I would actually liken it to the Preakness, the baby child when standing next to the Derby which has so much age and prestige. While it still draws some wonderful deep and talented fields, it in no way can be called equal to the Derby. · 197 days ago ·

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Hello Haskell, My Old Friend

Hello Haskell, my old friend. It's almost time for you again... A child of the Garden State, there is no race so deep in my being as Monmouth's signature mile and an eighth. I still have goosebumps begotten of great Haskell's past, like the day Majestic Light scorched the summer earth, or the way Fi...Read More

Posted 210 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · I wish you could join me at the Haskell this year. I will try and get you a 2011 Haskell Hat. Baffert loves the Haskell and the Monmouth Park management loves Baffert. I think the Monmouth surface is perfect for Coil's running style. Beware if Coil comes to NJ. I, too, loved Majestic Light. His 1976 victory was so exciting to me when I was a young horseplayer! · 210 days ago ·

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ScottDick · I think Pants On Fire is going to have a HUGE summer! Starting with this race. · 210 days ago ·

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zatt · Thank you Matt ... I wish I could be there as well. It is at a tough time of year for me, but, I will not let too many years go by without another Haskell. How many horses do you think would have touched Majestic Light on that afternoon 35 years ago? You and me both, Scott! · 210 days ago ·

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cpsoren121 · Wow, Zip this is turning out to be quite the race! LOVE the Haskell too!!! · 209 days ago ·

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ErnieMunick · Love the track, really love the people at the track. Haskell candidates...ehhhh · 209 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Looks good, doesn't it guys ... Hope to see another great Ernie Munick video to commemorate the occasion. · 209 days ago ·

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AndyScoggin · Brian, the 1:47 that Majestic Light ran in 1976 still stands as the track record tied only once by the great race that Bet Twice ran in 1987. Next closest to that time was 1:47.21 by RACHEL! Majestic Light loved Monmouth as he followed up with another brilliant race at the Shore the next summer in what is now called the Iselin Handicap. For this year I don't know how to interpret that they sent Rattlesnake Bridge back to Belmont for McLaughlin to check him out. Sounds worrisome to me. · 209 days ago ·

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BrianZipse · Uh-oh · 209 days ago ·

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girt · I wish Mucho Macho Man was running. · 209 days ago ·

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My Favorite Fountains of Youth

Ever since I was a very young racing fan, I have always looked forward to The Fountain of Youth Stakes. Perhaps as a youngster it was the catchy name that caught me eye, but as the first serious Kentucky Derby prep for the Eastern three-year-olds, no doubt it has been the stature of the race has kep...Read More

Posted 347 days ago ·

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SusieRaisher · No love for Built For Pleasure? That was maaaaadness! · 348 days ago ·

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zatt · Hahahahaha ... Susie, I like your style! How's this ... Built for Pleasure, the '96 winner was an absolute monster!!! · 348 days ago ·

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sjuwill · true brian..this is the start of spring for me....so many races to watch to make that bet on the first saturday in may..my favorite dates back to 1984 when darn that alarm upset swale....i was a big woody stephens fan and he came back strong after that race · 348 days ago ·

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arazi · Great post, Brian. You hit it right on the head. The Fountain of Youth is the true beginning of the serious Derby buzz. A great time of year and a great name. It is the time of year everyone starts looking for their Derby horse. However, I think Stronach really screwed up when they built Gulfstream at 1 1/8 miles and then moved it back a couple of weeks. It used to be that the Holy Bull was just an appetizer, and then the real Derby trail started in the middle of February. Now, with the longer distance, and trainers always looking for longer breaks, the FOY is like an appetizer, too. I think the list of recent winners reflects that, too. It's interesting that none of your favorite FOY's listed were in the last decade. While Eskendereya and Quality Road restored some luster the last two years, I think there was a definite dropoff from the 90's to the 00's. · 348 days ago ·

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TiznowReynolds · 95 is high on my list...Always been a fan of Thunder Gulch and just in January finally got to see him up close and personal. Such a little fighter...Smarty reminded me of him. · 348 days ago ·

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zatt · It did seem to fall of a bit early this century, (notice the drop from grade 1) but as you said, Arazi, it might be back on the way up with the quality of recent winners. I'd say Swale came back pretty strong after the upset, sjuwill ;-) '95 was memorable for the battle, Tiz, and those two came back and repeated the fight in the Florida Derby. Probably helped toughen up Thunder Gulch for the tests ahead. · 348 days ago ·

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GeorgeTierney · been a long time since this race produced anything truly spectacular for the triple crown series. last 2 horses that won didnt even run in the derby...but I like soldat today... · 348 days ago ·

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zatt · You were right, George ... and unfortunately, yesterday's race did not threaten to crack this list in any way. · 347 days ago ·

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Editor's Note Gives Lukas His 3d Straight Belmont

By JOSEPH DURSO Published: June 9, 1996 D. Wayne Lukas returned to the winner's circle yesterday when Editor's Note won the 128th running of the Belmont Stakes over Skip Away and the filly My Flag, giving Lukas his third straight victory in the Belmont and his seventh in the last eight Triple Crown ...Read More

Source: query.nytimes.com · Posted 1103 days ago ·

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Blue Grass Stakes recap: High Yield battles More Than Ready for win

Posted: Monday, April 17, 2000 D. Wayne Lukas-trained High Yield set the pace in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday and held off a late bid by More Than Ready to win by a head.Read More

Source: thoroughbredtimes.com · Posted 1107 days ago ·

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Risen Star Outruns Filly, wins 1988 Preakness

By STEVEN CRIST, Risen Star, a son of Secretariat, benefited from a rough early duel between Forty Niner and Winning Colors to win the 113th Preakness Stakes today at Pimlico Race Course.Read More

Source: query.nytimes.com · Posted 8662 days ago ·

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