Miles Ahead lost his first start in 2019 with 43 lengths but went on to prove to trainer Eddie Plesa that he is a good horse. It just takes a while.
That patience paid off after several times when gelding won four races last year during his 4-year-old season, including Gulfstream Park‘s Smile Sprint Invitational Stakes (G3) and the subsequent Three Quick Crown Races to claim the title as the 2021 Crown Horse. The honor is voted on by the Association’s Industry Awards Committee. National Protection and Benevolence, chaired by Todd Mostoller from the Pennsylvania HBPA.
Miles Ahead will be recognized at the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association’s annual awards dinner on September 10. The Claiming Crown – designed to be awarded to blue-collar horses that dominate races. America’s cards on their own championship day on the lines of the Breeders’ Cup – are sponsored by the national HBPA, the Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association, and the home track.
“Anytime you get national attention, it’s an honor,” Plesa said. “We all get upset about it. Listen, this is a tough industry. When you’re recognized by your peers and you’re awarded an award, it makes you puff up a little. In the horse racing game, if you’re hitting the 20% ball, that’s said to be great.
Miles Ahead was purchased in 2019 for $175,000 from a Top Line Sales at Ocala Breeders’ March Sale by Florida-based Plesa and an ownership partnership of David Melin, Leon Ellman, and his wife. Coach, Laurie. After winning 11 out of 21 starts and $323,525, they accepted an offer to sell gelding, who now races for Jay Em Ess Stable and is coached by Kentucky-based Paul McGee. Miles Ahead most recently finished runner-up by neck ahead of Qatar Racing Breeders’ Sprint (G1) winner Hello West In Churchill Downs‘Kelly’s Landing Overnight Stakes.
But it wasn’t a good start – like miles behind – as Miles Ahead lost contact with the field early on while finishing the 43rd leg of his first $50,000 sprint on the pitch.
Plesa said: “Throughout the preparation for running when he was 2 years old, he never showed anything. “So I put him on the pitch thinking ‘if this horse is successful, it’ll be on the pitch because he’s definitely not showing anything on the ground.” Needless to say, he ran horribly. “
In addition, Plesa felt secure in taking Miles Ahead in a $12,500 first-place title race – last at Gulfstream Park. He won 12 1/4 lengths.
“He woke up,” Plesa said. “I’m not afraid of anyone claiming him. And honestly, I wasn’t sure he was worth $12,500 at the time. The rest is what you see on the papers.”
miles away complete Diamond is sorry then beat the guy who made that $1.4 million while capturing Smile Stakes.
A trip to Racecourse Saratoga for Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) was unsuccessful, but Miles Ahead returned and won the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit on December 4 under Paco Lopez with 1 1/4 lengths. Kentucky’s half-blood son of Competitive advantage started its 5-year-old season with two more wins, capped by a $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint stake before the sale.
“Some horses are just later developers,” says Plesa. “Is it the case that he has confidence in himself? Maybe in part. He’s always been a good horse. He just likes to be alone and do his thing, which we give him.” It just got to the point where he did as much as he could in the warm-up races and we needed to find out, ‘Is he a high priced horse? Or could he be? something better?’ Every time we took him out there, he did his job, running hard to get where he is today.
“We were approached about selling him and we talked about it as a partnership. He made a lot of money for us, and it was an opportunity to cash in on him and Good luck to the others, which we have. He definitely ran a race ahead in his last start. He gave us a lot of thrills, a lot of fun. lots of fun. We’re not actively looking to sell him. It’s just one of the offers we feel we need to take advantage of.”
Ellman said he was especially delighted to have won the award because Miles Ahead was named after his grandson Miles, now 14. Mr. Jordan after his grandson Jordan, now 23. His 10 career victories include seven shares, topped by Monmouth ParkShares Pegasus (G3). He currently resides at the Old Friends retirement facility.
“We are very happy to receive this award, because I have treated them (his grandsons) equally,” Ellman said with a laugh. “I think my nephew is very happy. Eddie chose the horse; all I had to do was choose the name. We were very lucky with the horse. I saw that Miles did well in his last race. it. I hope the new owners have had a lot of luck with him, like we did.”
Eric Hamelback, National HBPA Executive Director, said Miles Ahead is the epitome of what the Crown and Claimed Horse of the Year was created to recognize.
“The committee focused on Miles Ahead and felt as if the horse and connections were indeed the horse recognized for their achievements,” Hamelback said. “We are delighted to be able to recognize and present the trophy to Miles Ahead at this year’s TOBA Awards.”
Mostoller said: “The competition for the Crown of the Year has become fierce as we have seen some incredible performances at the Crown Claims in recent years. “Miles Ahead exemplifies what we want from our champion: a hard-hitting horse that paid a promotion fee to be the winner of the ranked stakes. This is also the prize for the sport. We applaud Eddie Plesa and the team that owns them for their patience in letting Miles Ahead grow into a top horse.”
The 2022 Claiming Crown will be held for the first time at Churchill Downs, its 12 November falling a week after the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.
