Horses that complete an undefeated career at the highest level are indeed rare, so it’s unusual to see that. Arabian lion who captured Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on June 10, had two such horses in the first three generations in his pedigree.
The first of them is justification , who holds the unique position as the only horse retired as the undefeated winner of the United States Triple Crown. The Arabian Lion was a member of his first case—now 3—and with Woody Stephens’ victory, the Arabian Lion was honored to become his first class 1 winner.
Justification at Ashford Stud
Overall, Justify has eight stake winners from that first crop in the Northern Hemisphere, including other classified stake winners Champion dream And Just Cindy in North America, and figurine And poplar forest in Europe. There are also nine black horses, including Verification in progress , runner-up in Champagne Stakes (G1) and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and runner-up in Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on Saturday. Justify also moved to Australia and he is currently the top freshman there for the 2022-23 season with a trio of bet winners, two ranked.
Consider the impression the Arabian Lion made on his debut — a three-way win over a six-feathered maiden at Santa Anita . Park in October of last year, it was really surprising that it took him so long to score his first big hit. In fact, for a while he looked frustrated, as after that eye-catching opening he suffered four straight losses. In the following two teen outings, he was narrowly defeated by Giant naughty in an on-card allowance under Breeders’ Cup, and then faded into a very disappointing fifth place in Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
This term, he started with a well-beaten fourth place in Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), but ran a much better race when beaten by just half way. first mission in Lexington Stakes (G3), with winner Matt Winn Stakes (G3) on Sunday, disarm , in third place. The Arabian Lion confirmed he turned the game around on his next start, taking Sir Barton Stakes’ bottom card on Preakness Stakes (G1) in a way that suggested he would be a serious player if substituted. into which he scrambles classics. In Woody Stephens, the chestnut went one step further, scoring 1 3/4 points from the previous unbeaten run. Drew’s Gold .
Arabian lion out of mare Funny distortion Non constraint . Beaten in the United States, Unbound was exported to Japan, where she won three of her 10 starts. Returning to the US at the age of 5, she started twice, taking second place in the Punkin Pie Stakes at Belmont Park on the first of those outings. Untethered is sister to another current prominent person’s dam, her deposit performer Mary Rita person represented by Major who succeeded in the Pilgrim Stakes (G2) last year and who has established himself as one of the top 3-year-old turf runners of 2023 with victories in the Penn Mile Stakes (G2) and Kitten’s Joy Staking (G3).
Possibly, Unbound and Mary Rita’s dam, is also a mare one might hope to find. AP Indy’s Daughter, She’s Out of Champions individual , a foal born in 1984 is generally recognized as the first North American racehorse to complete an undefeated career at the highest level since Colin nearly 80 years earlier. Personal Ensign’s career became even more remarkable because after winning her first two games by 2, with the second being Frizette Stakes (G1), she broke her ankle bone. rear right. The wound was operated on by Dr. Larry Bramlage, and with five screws inserted, Personal Ensign was able to get back on track at 3 o’clock to win a pair of supplementary races, which then won the Neck. rare perfume share (G2) and Beldame Stock (G1).
Back at 4, Personal Ensign scored seven more wins, including Molly Pitcher Handicap (G2), Maskette Bet (G1), Shuvee Handicap (G1), Hempstead Handicap (G1), Beldame (G1) Handicap (G1) G1), Whitney Handicap (G1)—in a three-horse field completed by that year’s Sprinter champion, Gulch, and prolific King’s Swan—and on her last outing, a tally of votes. last before the Kentucky Derby (G1) heroine that year, the Color won, in the Breeders’ Cup Gap (G1).
At school, Personal Ensign proved herself to be a good producer little by little when she was a runner, winning model of the year in 1996. Her three children participated. join level 1 events: My flag scored four goals at that level, including the American Oaks Coaching Club and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies; Miner’s Mark Its successes include the Jockey Club Gold Cup; and traditionally merged Oaklawn Handicap. Another son of Personal Ensign, our logo (by Mr. Prospector and thus Miner’s Mark’s brother and by tradition), placed in 1st grade and bred winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes War Badge . Overall, Personal Ensign has been the ancestor of 35 stake winners, including the 2-year-old Storm Flag Flying champion (aside from My Flag) and other 1st class winners Mr. speaker And Soul search .
Individual teammates with her 1993 My Goer flag
Personal Ensign has come out of Hoist the Flag mare Grecian Banner, which is also the dam of Personal Ensign’s 1st multiple winner brother, Personal Flag. Her maternal grandmother, Dorine, was imported by Ogden Phipps (a breeder of Personal Ensign and Grecian Banner) from Argentina, where she was a champion sprinter. Bred on the same cross as the brilliant Forli (best known in North America as a cross of the Forego), Dorine overtook Doria, herself a two-time champion in Argentina.
Although we have said that undefeated horses are rare, the Arabian Lion has two — Nearco and Eclipse — in his direct lineage. His pedigree also features Danzig — who won 3 to 3, even though he never started in a black event; Raise a native, a 2-year-old champion who finished brilliantly after four starts; and Ribot, bred, like Nearco, by Federico Tesio, and undefeated in 16 races, including the head-to-head races of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
