Caracortado
Encyclopedia
Caracortado is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
. His sire, Cat Dreams, is a son of the influential stallion Storm Cat
. His dam, Mons Venus, is by Maria's Mon
, the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 1995 who won the Sanford Stakes
, the Champagne Stakes
, and the Belmont Futurity Stakes. Maria's Mon also sired Kentucky Derby
winners Monarchos
and Super Saver
.
Caracortado is owned by
Blahut Racing, LLC & Lo Hi Racing, and is bred and trained by Mike Machowsky.
. At three, Caracortado won the 2010 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
(G2), firmly establishing himself as among the better three-year-old colts in North America when he drew off to a strong 1¾ length score over highly regarded sophomores Dave In Dixie, American Lion, and Tiz Chrome. With this win, the grandson of Storm Cat moved his career record to an unblemished five wins in five starts. Caracortado lost his perfect status when third in the San Felipe Stakes
(G2) to Sidney's Candy
and Interactif. A troubled fourth in the Santa Anita Derby
(G1) in April, he lacked sufficient graded earnings to fulfill his Kentucky Derby
plans, and he then finished a weary seventh in the Preakness Stakes
(G1).
Following a six-month freshening after the Preakness, Caracortado returned under new rider Joe Talamo with a good win in his turf debut in a November 11 optional claiming race at Hollywood Park, defeating older rivals in near record time. Entered in the December 26 Malibu Stakes
(G1) on dirt at Santa Anita Park
, he finished third to track record-setter Twirling Candy and Smiling Tiger. On January 29, 2011, he returned to grass as a newly turned four-year-old in the Sunshine Millions Turf
with an emphatic win in fast time, over older graded stakes winners The Usual Q.T., Presious Passion, and Jeranimo, stamping himself as an emerging star in the turf division and as a contender for the 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile
. Bet to the 6/5 favorite in a field of ten for the grade one Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap
, he finished from far back, running through the stretch to just fail in a photo finish
to Fluke in the fastest turf mile of the Santa Anita meeting. It was subsequently decided he would skip an international campaign through the spring and focus on top North American grass races leading up to the November Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs
. On July 3, 2011 Caracortado finished second to Courageous Cat in the grade one Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Hollywood Park on turf. On August 27, 2011 he won the grade two Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf.
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...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. His sire, Cat Dreams, is a son of the influential stallion Storm Cat
Storm Cat
Storm Cat was an American Thoroughbred stallion whose breeding fee during the peak of his stud career was $500,000, the highest in the world. As such, he was one of the few horses with a 24-hour armed guard....
. His dam, Mons Venus, is by Maria's Mon
Maria's Mon
Maria's Mon was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that was the champion two-year-old colt in 1995 and produced two Kentucky Derby winners....
, the American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse of 1995 who won the Sanford Stakes
Sanford Stakes
The Sanford Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of July at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. A six furlong sprint race, the Grade II event is open to two-year-old horses....
, the Champagne Stakes
Champagne Stakes
Champagne Stakes may refer to:*Champagne Stakes , a horse race held at Randwick Racecourse in Australia*Champagne Stakes , a horse race held at Doncaster Racecourse in Great Britain...
, and the Belmont Futurity Stakes. Maria's Mon also sired 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...
winners Monarchos
Monarchos
Monarchos is a stallion Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Kentucky Derby in 2001. This thoroughbred's time was 1:59.97 for 1¼ miles. This is the second-fastest winning time in the race's history, behind 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who ran 1:59...
and Super Saver
Super Saver (horse)
Super Saver is a retired American Thoroughbred race horse, best known as the winner of the 2010 Kentucky Derby.-Pedigree:Super Saver's ancestors include damsire A.P. Indy, winner of the 1992 Belmont Stakes, 1957 Preakness Stakes winner Bold Ruler, 1964 Kentucky Derby winner Northern Dancer, and...
.
Caracortado is owned by
Blahut Racing, LLC & Lo Hi Racing, and is bred and trained by Mike Machowsky.
Racing career
Caracortado (Spanish for “scarface“), is a fan favorite among California horseracing fans for his catchy name and his rags-to-riches ascension from the $40,000 maiden claiming ranks to Grade 1 Stakes competition. A specialist on turf with exceptional speed, he was named as a juvenile by Machowsky for a scar down the middle of the horse's head. Proof that a good horse can come from anywhere, Caracortado's sire, Cat Dreams, previously stood for a mere $1,500 stud fee. The chestnut Californian-bred gelding, went undefeated through his first four starts at age two, capped by a victory in the 2009 California Breeders' Champion StakesCalifornia Breeders' Champion Stakes
California Breeders' Champion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1935 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. In 2011 it will be in its 72nd running....
. At three, Caracortado won the 2010 Robert B. Lewis Stakes
Robert B. Lewis Stakes
The Robert B. Lewis Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Raced over a distance of 11/16 miles on dirt, the Grade II race is open to three-year-old horses...
(G2), firmly establishing himself as among the better three-year-old colts in North America when he drew off to a strong 1¾ length score over highly regarded sophomores Dave In Dixie, American Lion, and Tiz Chrome. With this win, the grandson of Storm Cat moved his career record to an unblemished five wins in five starts. Caracortado lost his perfect status when third in the San Felipe Stakes
San Felipe Stakes
The San Felipe Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. The San Felipe is a Grade II event open to three-year-old horses. Normally held in mid-March, it is raced at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on dirt and currently...
(G2) to Sidney's Candy
Sidney's Candy
Sidney's Candy is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He is sired by increasingly important Candy Ride out of the Storm Cat mare Fair Exchange.- Racing Career :...
and Interactif. A troubled fourth in the Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Derby
The Santa Anita Derby is an American Grade 1 thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run each April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and carries a purse of $1 million. Inaugurated in 1935, it is considered the most important West Coast stepping-stone to the Kentucky Derby...
(G1) in April, he lacked sufficient graded earnings to fulfill his 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...
plans, and he then finished a weary seventh in 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...
(G1).
Following a six-month freshening after the Preakness, Caracortado returned under new rider Joe Talamo with a good win in his turf debut in a November 11 optional claiming race at Hollywood Park, defeating older rivals in near record time. Entered in the December 26 Malibu Stakes
Malibu Stakes
The Malibu Stakes is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses of either gender held each December at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California...
(G1) on dirt at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
, he finished third to track record-setter Twirling Candy and Smiling Tiger. On January 29, 2011, he returned to grass as a newly turned four-year-old in the Sunshine Millions Turf
Sunshine Millions Turf
The Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes is a race for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
with an emphatic win in fast time, over older graded stakes winners The Usual Q.T., Presious Passion, and Jeranimo, stamping himself as an emerging star in the turf division and as a contender for the 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
. Bet to the 6/5 favorite in a field of ten for the grade one Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap
Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap
The Frank E. Kilroe Mile Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run in early March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to horses four years of age and older, it is raced over a distance of one mile . The Grade I race currently offers a purse of $300,000.Inaugurated in 1960 as...
, he finished from far back, running through the stretch to just fail in a photo finish
Photo finish
A photo finish occurs in a sporting race, when two competitors cross the finishing line at near the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to discriminate between which of the competitors crossed the line first, a strip photo, a series of rapidly triggered photographs, or a video taken at the...
to Fluke in the fastest turf mile of the Santa Anita meeting. It was subsequently decided he would skip an international campaign through the spring and focus on top North American grass races leading up to the November Breeders Cup Mile at Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs...
. On July 3, 2011 Caracortado finished second to Courageous Cat in the grade one Shoemaker Mile Stakes at Hollywood Park on turf. On August 27, 2011 he won the grade two Del Mar Mile Handicap on turf.