Afleet Alex
Encyclopedia
Afleet Alex is an American
thoroughbred
race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races
, the Preakness Stakes
and the Belmont Stakes
. He is owned by the Cash Is King
Stable partnership, was trained by Tim Ritchey and was ridden by Jeremy Rose
.
by John Martin Silvertand, Alex is out of the winning mare Maggy Hawk and counts multiple Grade 2-placed Unforgettable Max as a full brother. Maggy Hawk is by Hawkster, a world record holder on turf at a mile and a half. His maternal granddam is 1983 Demoiselle Stakes
(G1) winner Qualique. Qualique was sired by Hawaii, a multiple grade one (G1) winner and marathon turf specialist. Also on his dam's side is Sir Gaylord
, half-brother to Secretariat
, who sired his fourth dam, Gaylord's Touch. Maggy Hawk has three foals of racing age, two runners, two winners and two stakes horses, including Afleet Alex. He was sired by Northern Afleet, a stakes winner from seven furlongs to nine furlongs, who was the son of the 1987 Canadian Horse of the Year
, Afleet. Afleet was by the leading sire Mr. Prospector
.
Alex was foaled May 9, 2002 at John Martin Silvertand's farm in Florida. At the outset, this plucky colt faced adversity: his mother became ill 24 hours after his birth and could no longer nurse him. She did supply him with colustrum (mothers first milk which is rich in anitbodies and nurtients. Silvertrand's daughter Lauren (then nine) fed Alex from a Coors Light bottle the day after his mother became ill. The farm staff replaced the emergency bottle the next day. He continued bottle feeding for approximately 10 days till a nurse mare could be found. He was originally sold at auction as a yearling for $150,000. A year later the owner sold him (he wasn't thought to be a great racing prospect) in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May two-year-old in training sale for $75,000.
As a two-year-old, Afleet Alex ran well enough to collect wins in the G1 Hopeful Stakes
and G2 Sanford Stakes (in stakes record time) and second place finishes in the G1 Champagne Stakes
and the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile, along with strong maiden and allowance
race scores in his first two starts. Afleet Alex started his three-year-old campaign on the Derby Trail, winning the listed Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park
in very fast time. Suffering from a lung infection, he finished last in the Rebel Stakes
under jockey John R. Velazquez, but rounded back into form with a powerful win in the G2 Arkansas Derby
, which he won by a record eight lengths under his regular jockey Jeremy Rose
. Coming off two strong wins and discarding his Rebel Stakes mishap, Alex was one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby
, run May 7, 2005. Alex finished third in the 2005 Kentucky Derby by less than a length. Yet his showing was more than respectable when one considers that not one, but two rabbits (speedballs entered into a race in order to wear out the most threatening horses) set a blinding pace that killed off the rest of the favorites that day. In addition, Rose later admitted that he had not given Afleet Alex the best ride of his life, perhaps depriving Afleet Alex of a victory.
, the G1 Preakness Stakes
at Pimlico
, leaving Giacomo
, winner of the Kentucky Derby, third. In his Preakness victory, he, as well as possibly the entire field, narrowly escaped disaster when Scrappy T
, who was in the lead, swung out at the top of the stretch as a result of an aggressive smack of his jockey Ramon Dominguez's whip, veering straight into Alex just as he made his move and clipping heels with him. This, in turn, caused Alex to stumble so badly that his jockey Jeremy Rose
was thrown far over his neck, Alex nearly went to his knees and his nose came within an inch of the dirt. In a feat of athleticism by both horse and rider, Alex picked himself up and recovered his momentum, drawing away from Scrappy T for a 4 3/4 length victory. Track announcer Dave Rodman made the thrilling call, "...and Afleet Alex has room to roll!! at the quarter poll. Afleet Alex is coming after Scrappy T in the Pre... oooh!!! Scrappy T,taking out Afleet Alex who almost went down! Scrappy T buried under the three-sixteenth. Afleet Alex, BOY does he have some heart!! Look at him come back a furlong to go!! and down to the final furlong in the Preakness! Afleet Alex! Scrappy T! How much the best is he!!!? Afleet Alex, strolling home in the Preakness to win by three! Scrappy T second and Giacomo third!! Afleet Alex, AWESOME!!" He finished the mile and three-sixteenth distance of the Preakness in 1:55, the fastest Preakness of the past eight years, turning in one of the fastest final three-sixteenths in Preakness history.
to win the G1 Belmont Stakes
by seven lengths, running the fastest final quarter (:24 2/5) in that race since Arts and Letters
in 1969. Tom Durkin famously shouted while commentating that "Afleet Alex just ran right by Giacomo like he was standing still!", referring to the Kentucky Derby winner who ultimately faded in the stretch. Afleet Alex is the last Belmont Stakes winner to date to have run in all three Triple Crown races.
Several awards were granted to Alex after his retirement:
He was runner-up for the 2004 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding award and won the Florida Two-Year-Old Champion Male that year.
In the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
, Afleet Alex was the World's Top Ranked Three-Year-Old Intermediate Distance Horse. He was ninth place overall, with a rating of 124 for his Preakness, sharing that spot with Deep Impact (2005 Japanese Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse of the Year), Bago (2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and 2004 Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Male), Leroidesanimaux
(2005 U.S. Champion Turf Male
), and Starcraft on that ranking sheet, not far behind the top ranked horse and three-year-old. He was the 2005 Florida Champion Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year.
In January 2006, he also won the Eclipse Award
for 2005 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding and finished second to Saint Liam
in the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
balloting. His dramatic victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes has been voted the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
"Moment of the Year." Cash Is King Stable received a special Eclipse Award for its generous contributions to Alex's Lemonade Stand.
In twelve lifetime starts, Alex won eight times (six times in stakes, three times in G1 stakes), placed twice (both in G1 stakes), and came in third once (in a G1 stakes) over 12 starts, for total lifetime earnings of $2,765,800.
in Lexington, Kentucky
where he commands US$15,000http://www.gainesway.com/horses/afleet-alex-195.html for a successful live cover breeding. His first foal, a colt, was born on January 21, 2007 at Derry Meeting Farm near Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Bred by Derry Meeting and Brian O'Rourke, the colt is the second foal out of the winning Tale of the Cat mare Baby Lets Cruise. The colt's dam is a half-sister to Grade I
winner Jade Hunter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
and the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
. He is owned by the Cash Is King
Cash is king
"Cash is king" is an expression sometimes used in analyzing businesses or investment portfolios. It may refer to the importance of cash flow in the overall fiscal health of a business...
Stable partnership, was trained by Tim Ritchey and was ridden by Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...
.
Early life and racing career
Bred in FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
by John Martin Silvertand, Alex is out of the winning mare Maggy Hawk and counts multiple Grade 2-placed Unforgettable Max as a full brother. Maggy Hawk is by Hawkster, a world record holder on turf at a mile and a half. His maternal granddam is 1983 Demoiselle Stakes
Demoiselle Stakes
The Demoiselle Stakes is a stakes race for thoroughbred horses open to two-year-old fillies who are willing to race the one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
(G1) winner Qualique. Qualique was sired by Hawaii, a multiple grade one (G1) winner and marathon turf specialist. Also on his dam's side is Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord
Sir Gaylord was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who later became a successful sire.-Background:He was bred and raced by Christopher Chenery...
, half-brother to Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
, who sired his fourth dam, Gaylord's Touch. Maggy Hawk has three foals of racing age, two runners, two winners and two stakes horses, including Afleet Alex. He was sired by Northern Afleet, a stakes winner from seven furlongs to nine furlongs, who was the son of the 1987 Canadian Horse of the Year
Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year
The Canadian Horse of the Year is a thoroughbred horse racing honor given annually since 1951 by the Jockey Club of Canada. It is the most prestigious honor in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing....
, Afleet. Afleet was by the leading sire Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
.
Alex was foaled May 9, 2002 at John Martin Silvertand's farm in Florida. At the outset, this plucky colt faced adversity: his mother became ill 24 hours after his birth and could no longer nurse him. She did supply him with colustrum (mothers first milk which is rich in anitbodies and nurtients. Silvertrand's daughter Lauren (then nine) fed Alex from a Coors Light bottle the day after his mother became ill. The farm staff replaced the emergency bottle the next day. He continued bottle feeding for approximately 10 days till a nurse mare could be found. He was originally sold at auction as a yearling for $150,000. A year later the owner sold him (he wasn't thought to be a great racing prospect) in the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May two-year-old in training sale for $75,000.
As a two-year-old, Afleet Alex ran well enough to collect wins in the G1 Hopeful Stakes
Hopeful Stakes (USA)
The Hopeful Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old horses, the Hopeful is the first Grade I stakes for two-year-olds each season and historically has been a showcase for some of the top East Coast horses...
and G2 Sanford Stakes (in stakes record time) and second place finishes in the G1 Champagne Stakes
Champagne Stakes (USA)
The Champagne Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses. The race is run at a distance of one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park in October each year. It is nested exclusively by colts....
and the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile, along with strong maiden and allowance
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
race scores in his first two starts. Afleet Alex started his three-year-old campaign on the Derby Trail, winning the listed Mountain Valley Stakes at Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park
Oaklawn Park is an American thoroughbred racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is the home to The Racing Festival of the South.In 2009, the Horseplayers Association of North America introduced a rating system for 65 Thoroughbred racetracks in North America. Of the top Ten, Oaklawn was ranked...
in very fast time. Suffering from a lung infection, he finished last in the Rebel Stakes
Rebel Stakes
The Rebel Stakes is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race held annually in March at Oaklawn Park racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Open to three-year-old horses, it is raced on dirt over a distance of 11/16 miles...
under jockey John R. Velazquez, but rounded back into form with a powerful win in the G2 Arkansas Derby
Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
, which he won by a record eight lengths under his regular jockey Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...
. Coming off two strong wins and discarding his Rebel Stakes mishap, Alex was one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
, run May 7, 2005. Alex finished third in the 2005 Kentucky Derby by less than a length. Yet his showing was more than respectable when one considers that not one, but two rabbits (speedballs entered into a race in order to wear out the most threatening horses) set a blinding pace that killed off the rest of the favorites that day. In addition, Rose later admitted that he had not given Afleet Alex the best ride of his life, perhaps depriving Afleet Alex of a victory.
The Preakness Stakes
Two weeks later, Alex went on to win the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingTriple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
, the G1 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
at Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, leaving Giacomo
Giacomo
Giacomo is a Thoroughbred stallion race horse trained by John Shirreffs who is perhaps best known for winning the 2005 Kentucky Derby in 2:02.75...
, winner of the Kentucky Derby, third. In his Preakness victory, he, as well as possibly the entire field, narrowly escaped disaster when Scrappy T
Scrappy T
Scrappy T was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A descendant of Sunny's Halo, he was sired by Fit to Fight by breeder Upson Downs Farm...
, who was in the lead, swung out at the top of the stretch as a result of an aggressive smack of his jockey Ramon Dominguez's whip, veering straight into Alex just as he made his move and clipping heels with him. This, in turn, caused Alex to stumble so badly that his jockey Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose
Jeremy Rose is an American Thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He began his career as a professional rider at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Delaware and in 2001 was his breakout year and he was voted the United States' Eclipse Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey.In 2005, Rose guided Afleet Alex, to...
was thrown far over his neck, Alex nearly went to his knees and his nose came within an inch of the dirt. In a feat of athleticism by both horse and rider, Alex picked himself up and recovered his momentum, drawing away from Scrappy T for a 4 3/4 length victory. Track announcer Dave Rodman made the thrilling call, "...and Afleet Alex has room to roll!! at the quarter poll. Afleet Alex is coming after Scrappy T in the Pre... oooh!!! Scrappy T,taking out Afleet Alex who almost went down! Scrappy T buried under the three-sixteenth. Afleet Alex, BOY does he have some heart!! Look at him come back a furlong to go!! and down to the final furlong in the Preakness! Afleet Alex! Scrappy T! How much the best is he!!!? Afleet Alex, strolling home in the Preakness to win by three! Scrappy T second and Giacomo third!! Afleet Alex, AWESOME!!" He finished the mile and three-sixteenth distance of the Preakness in 1:55, the fastest Preakness of the past eight years, turning in one of the fastest final three-sixteenths in Preakness history.
Belmont
On June 11, 2005, Afleet Alex passed Giacomo and the rest of the field in the final turn at Belmont ParkBelmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
to win the G1 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
by seven lengths, running the fastest final quarter (:24 2/5) in that race since Arts and Letters
Arts and Letters
Arts and Letters was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse.Owned and bred by American sportsman and noted philanthropist Paul Mellon, and trained by future Hall of Famer Elliott Burch, the colt began racing at age two...
in 1969. Tom Durkin famously shouted while commentating that "Afleet Alex just ran right by Giacomo like he was standing still!", referring to the Kentucky Derby winner who ultimately faded in the stretch. Afleet Alex is the last Belmont Stakes winner to date to have run in all three Triple Crown races.
The lemonade connection
Afleet Alex was named for his sire, Northern Afleet, and for the children of his owners, several of whom were named Alex. Afleet Alex's owners subsequently pledged a certain percentage of the colt's earnings to be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand, after the name connection.The end of great promise
The colt's fall campaign was derailed when he was found in late July 2005 to have a hairline fracture in his left front cannon bone, near the ankle. This injury is not an uncommon injury nor a very serious one if treated properly. Luckily, the fracture was discovered very early, and the prognosis was good for a return to his previous level of performance. Once fully healed, the colt returned to working for the Breeder's Cup Classic, putting in two bullet works in preparation for that race. However, Tim Ritchey decided to take the conservative path with the colt and shelved him for the year. Later on in the year, avascular necrosis (the dying of tissue in the bone, creating a brittle patch) was discovered and diagnosed. The necrosis was probably due to an undetected deep bruise sustained when he caught himself and exerted the tremendous effort needed to save himself and his jockey with his left front leg in his near fall in the Preakness. It is believed the necrosis caused his summer condylar fracture. Tim Ritchey and Cash is King Stable announced his retirement from racing on December 1, 2005.Several awards were granted to Alex after his retirement:
He was runner-up for the 2004 Eclipse Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding award and won the Florida Two-Year-Old Champion Male that year.
In the 2005 World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings
The World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings are compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities , an organization established in 2003 with headquarters in Paris, France made up of members from around the world....
, Afleet Alex was the World's Top Ranked Three-Year-Old Intermediate Distance Horse. He was ninth place overall, with a rating of 124 for his Preakness, sharing that spot with Deep Impact (2005 Japanese Champion Three-Year-Old Colt and Horse of the Year), Bago (2004 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and 2004 Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Male), Leroidesanimaux
Leroidesanimaux
Leroidesanimaux is a Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in Brazil and was a Eclipse Award winner in the United States.-Background:His name is four French language words combined...
(2005 U.S. Champion Turf Male
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse
The American Champion Male Turf Horse award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor. In 1971 it became part of the Eclipse Awards program and is awarded annually to a Colt or Gelding, regardless of age, for their performance on grass race courses....
), and Starcraft on that ranking sheet, not far behind the top ranked horse and three-year-old. He was the 2005 Florida Champion Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year.
In January 2006, he also won the Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for 2005 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding and finished second to Saint Liam
Saint Liam
Saint Liam was an American thoroughbred racehorse who was voted 2005 Eclipse Award Horse of the Year honors....
in the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year
The American Award for Horse of the Year is the highest honor given in American thoroughbred horse racing. It has been awarded since 1887 to the horse, irrespective of age, whose performance during the racing year is deemed the most outstanding....
balloting. His dramatic victory in the 2005 Preakness Stakes has been voted the National Thoroughbred Racing Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...
"Moment of the Year." Cash Is King Stable received a special Eclipse Award for its generous contributions to Alex's Lemonade Stand.
In twelve lifetime starts, Alex won eight times (six times in stakes, three times in G1 stakes), placed twice (both in G1 stakes), and came in third once (in a G1 stakes) over 12 starts, for total lifetime earnings of $2,765,800.
The beginning of new promise
Afleet Alex is currently standing stud at Gainesway FarmGainesway Farm
Gainesway Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding business in Lexington, Kentucky. It was originally called Greentree Farms.The 1,500 acre property has been home to sires such as Youth and Exceller and numerous others who are buried on the property...
in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
where he commands US$15,000http://www.gainesway.com/horses/afleet-alex-195.html for a successful live cover breeding. His first foal, a colt, was born on January 21, 2007 at Derry Meeting Farm near Cochranville, Pennsylvania. Bred by Derry Meeting and Brian O'Rourke, the colt is the second foal out of the winning Tale of the Cat mare Baby Lets Cruise. The colt's dam is a half-sister to Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winner Jade Hunter.