With a near-flawless track record and two consecutive 1st place wins, First Row Partners and Team Hanley’s Good night olives became a strong contender for the Eclipse Awards as the 2022 champion female sprinter.
Tensions were high on 5 November last year when a school of 12 people took part Keeneland main track while crowds eagerly watch to see if Ce Ce was able to keep her title in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and then her championship title.
As the final turns came and went, it wasn’t for the thoroughbred Bo Hirsch, who finished in fourth as the leads crossed the fence, including Goodnight Olive, who continued to accelerate in long time to win 2 1/ against her opponents 2 distances.
Still burning with victory, Chad Brown, the 5-year-old mare’s trainer, tells the story of the failures overcome on his journey to the World Stage.
“There are more bad phone calls than good ones with this horse, I can promise you that,” he said.
Although the mare may have only accumulated seven starts so far, her only loss was her first start in the women’s special weight class in 2021 at Gulfstream Park. She made up for the tedious run many times and has not lost a race since, including the 2022 Ballerina Handicap (G1) at Racecourse Saratoga whose relationships say they secured they would run her at Keeneland two months later.
Team Hanley’s Jay Hanley said: “When she started her career she came in a disappointing second place, her only loss. She came here (Keeneland), broke broke her maidenhood and won six straight.” “The ballerina, obviously a 1st grader, Chad confidently put her in there.”
Brown added his sentiments, “It was a very strong race and I don’t think it will take much longer to win (Breders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint)… especially with one. horses have proven to be fragile.”
Bought by Liz Crow for First Row Partners at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale 2019 for $170,000 from consignment Summerfield, daughter of Ghostzapper has now earned over $1 million for its connections.
She was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings from the hugely successful Smart Strike mare. salty strike who won the 2011 Dogwood Stakes (G3) and 2012 Gardenia Stakes (G3) along with many other wins in the holdings. Goodnight Olive is her third pony.
