Paradise Creek (horse)
Encyclopedia
Paradise Creek was a millionaire American Thoroughbred
racehorse and successful sire. He was bred in Kentucky
by Bertram R. Firestone and raced under the same Firestone banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 14-7-1 in 25 starts with career earnings of $
3,401,415. Paradise Creek was best known for his wins in the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes and the grade one Arlington Million
. In 1994 he became the only horse ever to have won both prestigious turf races of the United States.
and the grade two National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at age three. He placed second in the grade one Secretariat Stakes
at Arlington Park
in August and then later the Palisaides Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Paradise Creek entered the 1992 grade one Breeders' Cup Mile
as the third longest shot in a field of 14 turf specialists at 31-1. Paradise Creek rallied outside horses entering the stretch and held off the charge of many late closers. Despite the three length loss to dual cup winner Lure
, he beat many graded stakes winners that included Brief Truce by a neck, Arazi and Fourstars Allstar.
in the grade three Kelso Handicap in September at Belmont Park
. Then he traveled to the west coast and placed second again in the grade two Citation Handicap
to Jeune Homme at Hollywood Park in November.
, the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the grade one Manhattan Handicap
, the grade two Turf Classic Stakes, the grade two Dixie Handicap, the grade two Canadian Turf Handicap
, the grade three Appleton Handicap
and the listed Fort Lauderdale Handicap. He also placed second in the grade two Bernard Baruch Handicap
and the group one Japan Cup
.
In the 1994 $2,000,000 grade one Breeders' Cup Turf
, Paradise Creek entered the race as the prohibitive odds-on favorite. In this race jockey Pat Day
had him press the pace from the onset sitting in a very close stalking position at fourth behind leader Dahlia's Dreamer. At the half-way point in the race, Paradise Creek made a bold move and cleared the field by a head just before the mile mark. Speeding by natural sprinters Raintap and Vaudville took everything he had. He continued to lead after a mile and quarter but tired late holding on to third. Tikkanen moved ahead to win the race by 1-1/2 lengths at odds of almost 17-1.
and his 2009 stud fee was ¥200,000. He died on April 4, 2011 at Arrow Stud. His most notable offspring is the two-year old filly, TM Precure.
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 and successful sire. He was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Bertram R. Firestone and raced under the same Firestone banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 14-7-1 in 25 starts with career earnings of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
3,401,415. Paradise Creek was best known for his wins in the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes and the grade one Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
. In 1994 he became the only horse ever to have won both prestigious turf races of the United States.
Three year-old season
Paradise Creek won the grade one Hollywood DerbyHollywood Derby
The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. The race is open to horses, age three willing to race a mile and a quarter on turf. It currently offers a purse of ...
and the grade two National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at age three. He placed second in the grade one Secretariat Stakes
Secretariat Stakes
The Secretariat Stakes is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run over a distance of 1¼ miles . Held annually in mid August, it is the brother of both the Arlington Million and the Beverly D...
at Arlington Park
Arlington Park
Arlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
in August and then later the Palisaides Breeders' Cup Handicap.
Paradise Creek entered the 1992 grade one 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...
as the third longest shot in a field of 14 turf specialists at 31-1. Paradise Creek rallied outside horses entering the stretch and held off the charge of many late closers. Despite the three length loss to dual cup winner Lure
Lure
Lure can refer to:* Lure * Lure coursing, a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure* Fishing lure* Lur, an instrument found in northern Europe* Lure, Haute-Saône, a commune of the Haute-Saône département, in France...
, he beat many graded stakes winners that included Brief Truce by a neck, Arazi and Fourstars Allstar.
Four year-old season
At age four, Paradise Creek was injured and raced very little. That year (1993) he placed second to turf superstar LureLure
Lure can refer to:* Lure * Lure coursing, a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure* Fishing lure* Lur, an instrument found in northern Europe* Lure, Haute-Saône, a commune of the Haute-Saône département, in France...
in the grade three Kelso Handicap in September at Belmont Park
Belmont 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...
. Then he traveled to the west coast and placed second again in the grade two Citation Handicap
Citation Handicap
The Citation Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Raced in late November, it is open to horses age three-years-old and up. Contested on turf over a distance of 1 1/16 miles, the event currently offers a purse of $250,000...
to Jeune Homme at Hollywood Park in November.
Five year-old season
In 1994, Paradise Creek had the most impressive campaign of his career. That year, his five year-old season he won the grade one Arlington MillionArlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
, the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the grade one Manhattan Handicap
Manhattan Handicap
The Manhattan Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is named for Manhattan, the principal borough of the City of New York...
, the grade two Turf Classic Stakes, the grade two Dixie Handicap, the grade two Canadian Turf Handicap
Canadian Turf Handicap
The Canadian Turf Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The Grade III race is open to horses four-year-old and up and is run at a distance of 11/16 miles on turf....
, the grade three Appleton Handicap
Appleton Handicap
The Appleton Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
and the listed Fort Lauderdale Handicap. He also placed second in the grade two Bernard Baruch Handicap
Bernard Baruch Handicap
The Bernard Baruch Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early to mid August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is for three year olds and up willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the turf and carries a purse of $200,000...
and the group one Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
.
In the 1994 $2,000,000 grade one Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
, Paradise Creek entered the race as the prohibitive odds-on favorite. In this race jockey Pat Day
Pat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day is an American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991...
had him press the pace from the onset sitting in a very close stalking position at fourth behind leader Dahlia's Dreamer. At the half-way point in the race, Paradise Creek made a bold move and cleared the field by a head just before the mile mark. Speeding by natural sprinters Raintap and Vaudville took everything he had. He continued to lead after a mile and quarter but tired late holding on to third. Tikkanen moved ahead to win the race by 1-1/2 lengths at odds of almost 17-1.
Retirement
Paradise Creek was sold to a Japanese breeding syndicate in 1995 and stood in Japan that first year. He stood at Arrow Stud in JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and his 2009 stud fee was ¥200,000. He died on April 4, 2011 at Arrow Stud. His most notable offspring is the two-year old filly, TM Precure.