Eskendereya
Encyclopedia
Eskendereya is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
. He is sired by Giant's Causeway
, a son of North America's one time leading sire Storm Cat
. Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Eskendereya was a $250,000 Keeneland
September purchase. His dam is Aldebaran Light, who is a daughter of champion Seattle Slew
. Aldebaran Light is also the dam of Group I winner Balmont. Eskendereya is owned by Zayat Stables, and is trained by Todd Pletcher.
Eskendereya made his career debut on turf at Saratoga, rallying from off the pace to finish second. To date, he has won the Pilgrim Stakes
and the Fountain of Youth Stakes
On February 20, 2010, Eskendereya took the lead entering the final turn and pulled away for an 8½-length victory in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, beating favorite Buddy's Saint
. This win made Eskendereya one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby
.
On April 3, 2010, Eskendereya won the Wood Memorial Stakes
by 9¾ lengths, essentially repeating his dominating performance in Florida. This made him the Kentucky Derby favorite. However, it was announced on April 25 that Eskendereya would be pulled out of the Kentucky Derby and is now retired due to swelling in his leg.
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...
. He is sired by Giant's Causeway
Giant's Causeway (horse)
Giant's Causeway is a Kentucky-bred thoroughbred racehorse who competed primarily in Europe. In 2000, he won five straight Group One races. His performance that year earned him European Horse of the Year honors....
, a son of North America's one time leading sire 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....
. Bred in Kentucky by Sanford Robertson, Eskendereya was a $250,000 Keeneland
Keeneland
Keeneland is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and sales complex in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Operated by the Keeneland Association, Inc., it is also known for its reference library on the sport, which contains more than 10,000 volumes, an extensive videocassette collection, and a substantial...
September purchase. His dam is Aldebaran Light, who is a daughter of champion Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew
Seattle Slew was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977, the tenth of eleven horses to accomplish the feat. He remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S...
. Aldebaran Light is also the dam of Group I winner Balmont. Eskendereya is owned by Zayat Stables, and is trained by Todd Pletcher.
Eskendereya made his career debut on turf at Saratoga, rallying from off the pace to finish second. To date, he has won the Pilgrim Stakes
Pilgrim Stakes
The Pilgrim Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1979 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. A Grade III event raced in late September, it is open to horses two-year-old horses and is contested at a distance of 1⅛ miles on turf. In 1983, it was run on dirt...
and the Fountain of Youth Stakes
Fountain of Youth Stakes
The Fountain of Youth Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida at the beginning of March. A Grade II event open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the dirt, it offers a purse of $400,000...
On February 20, 2010, Eskendereya took the lead entering the final turn and pulled away for an 8½-length victory in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, beating favorite Buddy's Saint
Buddy's Saint
Buddy's Saint is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by Saint Liam, a Breeders' Cup Classic winner who also won the Eclipse Award as the 2005 Horse of the Year, he is out of the mare Tuzia by Blushing John...
. This win made Eskendereya one of the early 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...
.
On April 3, 2010, Eskendereya won the Wood Memorial Stakes
Wood Memorial Stakes
The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Jamaica, New York. It is currently a Grade I race run over a distance of 9 furlongs on dirt....
by 9¾ lengths, essentially repeating his dominating performance in Florida. This made him the Kentucky Derby favorite. However, it was announced on April 25 that Eskendereya would be pulled out of the Kentucky Derby and is now retired due to swelling in his leg.