Drosselmeyer
Encyclopedia
Drosselmeyer is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
best known for winning the third leg of the 2010 U.S. Triple Crown
series and the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic
.
, his dam was Golden Ballet, a multiple Grade 1
winner and a California
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Damsire Moscow Ballet was a son of the 1971 English Triple Crown champion Nijinsky
. Drosselmeyer was named for a character from The Nutcracker
ballet
. Drosselmeyer was purchased at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
for $600,000 by WinStar Farm LLC
of Versailles, Kentucky
who entrusted his race conditioning to Hall of Fame
trainer, Bill Mott.
, the colt ran third in the Louisiana Derby
. But his earnings from that, combined with those from his other three starts, were not sufficient total earnings to qualify for the Derby.
On May 8, Drosselmeyer finished second in the Dwyer Stakes
, six lengths behind the winner, Fly Down. That performance saw him sent off at odds of 13-1 in the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
series, the Belmont Stakes
. Ridden by Hall of Fame
jockey Mike Smith, Drosselmeyer won the race, giving jockey Smith his first win in the Belmont and for trainer Bill Mott
, his first ever Triple Crown race win.
Drosselmeyer was unplaced in two starts in the Challenge and Skip Away Stakes after the Belmont, but he did win the 2011 One Count Stakes on May 15.
On November 5, 2011, Drosselmeyer (once again ridden by Mike Smith) snatched the win in the 5-million dollar Breeders' Cup Classic
from Game on Dude
in the final strides of the race.
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...
best known for winning the third leg of the 2010 U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series and the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
.
Background
Sired by multiple stakes winner Distorted HumorDistorted Humor
Distorted Humor is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.-Bloodline:Distorted Humor's sire is Forty Niner, 1987's Eclipse Award winning Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse by the champion sire, Mr. Prospector. Distorted Humor's dam was Danzig's Beauty by Danzig. Distorted...
, his dam was Golden Ballet, a multiple Grade 1
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 and a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. Damsire Moscow Ballet was a son of the 1971 English Triple Crown champion Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
. Drosselmeyer was named for a character from The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
. Drosselmeyer was purchased at the 2008 Keeneland September Yearling Sale
Keeneland Sales
The Keeneland Sales is an American Thoroughbred auction house in Lexington, Kentucky founded in 1935 as a nonprofit racing/auction entity on 147 acres of farmland west of Lexington, which had been owned by Jack O. Keene...
for $600,000 by WinStar Farm LLC
WinStar Farm
WinStar Farm is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing farm near Versailles, Kentucky. Formerly known as Prestonwood Farm, it was owned by Houston, Texas oilmen Jack, Art, and J. R...
of Versailles, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,511 people, 3,160 households, and 2,110 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,330 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.18% White, 8.67% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.35%...
who entrusted his race conditioning to Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer, Bill Mott.
Racing Career
Drosselmeyer raced four times at age two, earning his first win on November 18 in his final start of 2009. In the important stakes races for three-year-olds leading up to the 2010 Kentucky DerbyKentucky 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...
, the colt ran third in the Louisiana Derby
Louisiana Derby
The Louisiana Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. Usually run in early March, the race is open to horses, age three, willing to race 11/8 miles on the dirt. A Grade II event, it currently offers a purse of...
. But his earnings from that, combined with those from his other three starts, were not sufficient total earnings to qualify for the Derby.
On May 8, Drosselmeyer finished second in the Dwyer Stakes
Dwyer Stakes
The Dwyer Stakes is an American Grade II stakes race for three-year-old thoroughbred racehorses held annually at Belmont Park racetrack in Elmont, Long Island, New York. Run in early July, it is open to three-year-old horses and is raced over a distance of 1 1/16-miles on dirt...
, six lengths behind the winner, Fly Down. That performance saw him sent off at odds of 13-1 in the third leg of the U.S. Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
series, 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...
. Ridden by Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
jockey Mike Smith, Drosselmeyer won the race, giving jockey Smith his first win in the Belmont and for trainer Bill Mott
Bill Mott
William I. "Bill" Mott is an American horse trainer, most notable for his work with Cigar. Mott earned the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1995 and 1996. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1998 at the age of 45, becoming the second-youngest trainer ever...
, his first ever Triple Crown race win.
Drosselmeyer was unplaced in two starts in the Challenge and Skip Away Stakes after the Belmont, but he did win the 2011 One Count Stakes on May 15.
On November 5, 2011, Drosselmeyer (once again ridden by Mike Smith) snatched the win in the 5-million dollar Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
from Game on Dude
Game On Dude
Game On Dude is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who to date has won two Grade I stakes including the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap. Trained by Bob Baffert, he was ridden by Chantal Sutherland for both of his Grade I wins as well as his second-place finish in the 2011 Breeders' Cup...
in the final strides of the race.