Pine Bluff (horse)
Encyclopedia
Pine Bluff was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Bred and raced by John Ed Anthony's Loblolly Stable
, he was a son of Danzig
and grandson of the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer
. His dam, Rowdy Angel, was a daughter of two-time North American Champion sire
Halo
.
at Saratoga Race Course
. In mid-September 1991 he ran back to finish third again to future Preakness qualifier Agincourt of Nick Zito
's stable in the seven furlong grade one Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park
. In late October he won the grade three Nashua Stakes
over a mile at Belmont under jockey Craig Perret
in 1:46.00 flat. Pine Bluff finished the year in late November with a dazzling win in the grade two Remsen Stakes
at Aqueduct Racetrack
finishing the mile and one eighth in 1:50.80 also under rider Craig Perret
.
At age three Pine Bluff was shipped to Arkansas
home of his owner John Ed Anthony and Loblolly Stable
(based in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
) to race in the three year-old series held at Oaklawn Park
. In mid-February of 1992 Pine Bluff started his sophomore campaign by running second in the one mile Southwest Stakes
to future Preakness qualifier Big Sur of D. Wayne Lukas
's stable. In mid-March he came back and dominated the grade three Rebel Stakes
with a win in 1:42.80 for the mile and one sixteenth after obtaining the services of the nation's premier jockey Jerry D. Bailey. In mid-April Pine Bluff won the grade two Arkansas Derby
by a neck over Lil E. Tee
in a compact field of six. Bailey was again given the riding assignment by trainer Tom Bohannan and won the mile and one eighth derby in 1:49.40 over a fast track.
entered Pine Bluff in the Kentucky Derby
at Churchill Downs
in Louisville, Kentucky
. Eighteen runners were entered that day but all the buzz centered around one colt that dominated the air waves as the overwhelming favorite, Arazi. In that race Pine Bluff was listed as the third choice at 5-1. Jockey Jerry Bailey
chose to ride second choice Technology at 2-1 which allowed his former jockey Craig Perret
to pick up the mount on Pine Bluff. As the gates opened up he broke well and settled in fourth going in the turn. Nearing the end of the back stretch Pine Bluff moved into second behind only Dance Floor clocking the first 3/4 of a mile in 1:12.37. Moving into the home stretch Pine Bluff remained a factor in a tight bunch of seven colts. In the last sixteenth of a mile Pine Bluff lack a late response when asked by Perret. Pine Bluff faded to fifth as Lil E. Tee
, Casual Lies and Dance Floor finished in the top three places. Odds-on favorite Arazi came in eighth at odds of .90-1.
Two weeks later Pine Bluff's connections had enough confidence to start him in the 1992 Preakness Stakes
. Not only did the connections have confidence but so did the public making Pine Bluff the post time favorite at 7-2. After a well publsized round of musical chairs many jockies jumped from one horse to another for the Preakness. In the end Pine Bluff ended up wit a new jockey Chris McCarron
. Pine Bluff broke slowly from gate four in very close quarters and settled in the middle of a full field of 14 horses in eighth passing the stands for the first time behind leader Big Sur. Around the Club House turn he moved up to sixth as leader Speakerphone finished the first half mile in :46-1/5. Down the back stretch he worked his way to the outside of the field five wide and started advancing on the first flight of horses. He continued his rally at the top of the home stretch pulling up to third. He then brushed with Dance Floor inside the final furlong. Then he wore down the leader Alydeed and beat him at the wire by 3/4 of a length. Pine Bluff's win in the Preakness Stakes
proved to be the first of two straight Preakness wins for his trainer, Tom Bohannan
and owner Loblolly Stable
and John Ed Anthony.
In the final leg of the Triple Crown
series, Pine Bluff ran third behind A.P. Indy
in the Belmont Stakes
but did earn the $1 million bonus paid by Chrysler Corporation to the owner of the horse with the Highest combined Triple Crown finish as part of Triple Crown Bonus Program
. Pine Bluff finished with 13 points ahead of both the Derby winner Lil E. Tee
with 10 points, Belmont winner A.P. Indy
with 10 points and Casual Lies with 8 points.
in his left foreleg. He finished his racing career with a record of six wins, one second and four third place finishes in 13 total starts for career earnings of $2,255,884. Pine Bluff's "In-the-Money" percentage of 85% (11 of 13 races) ranked him among the top 20 thoroughbreds in history on the date of his retirement. Retired to stud
duty, he sired twenty-nine stakes race
winners and was pensioned in 2006.
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...
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...
. Bred and raced by John Ed Anthony's Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable was a Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing stable in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas owned by businessman John Ed Anthony and his former wife Mary Lynn. The stable's first top runner was Cox's Ridge who won important races in 1977 and 1978 and went on to become an excellent sire...
, he was a son of Danzig
Danzig (horse)
Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale...
and grandson of the 20th Century's most important sire, Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
. His dam, Rowdy Angel, was a daughter of two-time North American Champion sire
Leading sire in North America
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in North America for each year since 1830. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the year...
Halo
Halo (horse)
Halo was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and an important Champion sire. Bred in Kentucky by John R. Gaines, founder of the Breeders Cup, Halo was out of the mare Cosmah , which made him a half-brother to the Hall of Fame filly Tosmah. His sire was Hail To Reason, the U.S...
.
Early racing career
Pine Bluff was a promising colt from the day he stepped on the race track in 1991 at age two. In his first attempt at racing, he broke his maiden and won, then he was elevated several levels and was sent straight into graded stakes races. Pine Bluff was shipped to upstate New York where he showed with a third place finish in the grade one Champagne StakesChampagne 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...
at Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course
Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John...
. In mid-September 1991 he ran back to finish third again to future Preakness qualifier Agincourt of Nick Zito
Nick Zito
Nicholas Philip "Nick" Zito is an American Thoroughbred horse trainer.Zito began his career as a hot walker and worked his way up to a groom, to an assistant trainer, and to a trainer...
's stable in the seven furlong grade one Futurity Stakes 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...
. In late October he won the grade three Nashua Stakes
Nashua Stakes
The Nashua Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Named for Nashua, the 1955 United States Horse of the Year, it was first run in 1975. A Grade II race, it is open to two-year-olds and has been raced over a distance of one mile since...
over a mile at Belmont under jockey Craig Perret
Craig Perret
Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...
in 1:46.00 flat. Pine Bluff finished the year in late November with a dazzling win in the grade two Remsen Stakes
Remsen Stakes
The Remsen Stakes is an American Grade II race for Thoroughbred horse race run annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York...
at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
finishing the mile and one eighth in 1:50.80 also under rider Craig Perret
Craig Perret
Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...
.
At age three Pine Bluff was shipped to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
home of his owner John Ed Anthony and Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable was a Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing stable in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas owned by businessman John Ed Anthony and his former wife Mary Lynn. The stable's first top runner was Cox's Ridge who won important races in 1977 and 1978 and went on to become an excellent sire...
(based in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
Lake Hamilton, Arkansas
Lake Hamilton is a census-designated place in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It is part of the 'Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 2,135 at the 2000 census...
) to race in the three year-old series held 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 mid-February of 1992 Pine Bluff started his sophomore campaign by running second in the one mile Southwest Stakes
Southwest Stakes
The Southwest Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkansas in mid February during the President's Day weekend. The race is open to three-year-old horses willing to race one mile on the dirt and currently offers a purse of $250,000...
to future Preakness qualifier Big Sur of D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas
Darrell Wayne Lukas is a former educator who became one of the most successful horse trainers in American Thoroughbred horse racing history and a U.S...
's stable. In mid-March he came back and dominated the grade three 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...
with a win in 1:42.80 for the mile and one sixteenth after obtaining the services of the nation's premier jockey Jerry D. Bailey. In mid-April Pine Bluff won the grade two 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....
by a neck over Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1992 scored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby.-Background:...
in a compact field of six. Bailey was again given the riding assignment by trainer Tom Bohannan and won the mile and one eighth derby in 1:49.40 over a fast track.
1992 Triple Crown series
On the first Saturday in May Loblolly StableLoblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable was a Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing stable in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas owned by businessman John Ed Anthony and his former wife Mary Lynn. The stable's first top runner was Cox's Ridge who won important races in 1977 and 1978 and went on to become an excellent sire...
entered Pine Bluff in 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...
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...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. Eighteen runners were entered that day but all the buzz centered around one colt that dominated the air waves as the overwhelming favorite, Arazi. In that race Pine Bluff was listed as the third choice at 5-1. Jockey Jerry Bailey
Jerry Bailey
Jerry D. Bailey is a retired American Hall of Fame jockey. He began his racing career in November 1974. His first mount was on a horse named Pegged Rate, who ran off the board. He notched his first career win the next day on his second career mount, Fetch, at New Mexico's Sunland Park, and has...
chose to ride second choice Technology at 2-1 which allowed his former jockey Craig Perret
Craig Perret
Craig Perret is an American thoroughbred horse racing jockey. He began riding horses at age five and by seven was riding quarter horses in match races...
to pick up the mount on Pine Bluff. As the gates opened up he broke well and settled in fourth going in the turn. Nearing the end of the back stretch Pine Bluff moved into second behind only Dance Floor clocking the first 3/4 of a mile in 1:12.37. Moving into the home stretch Pine Bluff remained a factor in a tight bunch of seven colts. In the last sixteenth of a mile Pine Bluff lack a late response when asked by Perret. Pine Bluff faded to fifth as Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1992 scored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby.-Background:...
, Casual Lies and Dance Floor finished in the top three places. Odds-on favorite Arazi came in eighth at odds of .90-1.
Two weeks later Pine Bluff's connections had enough confidence to start him in the 1992 Preakness Stakes
1992 Preakness Stakes
The 1992 Preakness Stakes was the 118th running of the Preakness Stakes. The race took place on May 16, 1992, and was televised in the United States on the NBC television network. Pine Bluff, who was jockeyed by Chris McCarron, won the race. Approximate post time was 5:34 p.m. Eastern Time...
. Not only did the connections have confidence but so did the public making Pine Bluff the post time favorite at 7-2. After a well publsized round of musical chairs many jockies jumped from one horse to another for the Preakness. In the end Pine Bluff ended up wit a new jockey Chris McCarron
Chris McCarron
Christopher John "Chris" McCarron is a retired American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey. He is currently working as a racing analyst for TVG Network....
. Pine Bluff broke slowly from gate four in very close quarters and settled in the middle of a full field of 14 horses in eighth passing the stands for the first time behind leader Big Sur. Around the Club House turn he moved up to sixth as leader Speakerphone finished the first half mile in :46-1/5. Down the back stretch he worked his way to the outside of the field five wide and started advancing on the first flight of horses. He continued his rally at the top of the home stretch pulling up to third. He then brushed with Dance Floor inside the final furlong. Then he wore down the leader Alydeed and beat him at the wire by 3/4 of a length. Pine Bluff's win 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...
proved to be the first of two straight Preakness wins for his trainer, Tom Bohannan
Thomas Bohannan
Thomas K. Bohannan is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and as a young man became a hotwalker, groom, and racing stable foreman. In 1989 he became the private trainer for the successful Loblolly Stable of Lake Hamilton, Arkansas.With Loblolly, Tom...
and owner Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable
Loblolly Stable was a Thoroughbred horse breeding and racing stable in Lake Hamilton, Arkansas owned by businessman John Ed Anthony and his former wife Mary Lynn. The stable's first top runner was Cox's Ridge who won important races in 1977 and 1978 and went on to become an excellent sire...
and John Ed Anthony.
In the final leg of the 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, Pine Bluff ran third behind A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy is a champion stallion Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky, USA, by William Farish III and William Kilroy. He is known for his ancestry, his own record, and his successful progeny. He was sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew through mare Weekend Surprise, who herself was sired...
in 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...
but did earn the $1 million bonus paid by Chrysler Corporation to the owner of the horse with the Highest combined Triple Crown finish as part of Triple Crown Bonus Program
Triple Crown Productions
Triple Crown Productions was an ad hoc production company that produced the series of Triple Crown races for thoroughbred horses.-Formation:In 1985, a group of people wanted to increase the stature of the Triple Crown on television. Other than the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and Belmont...
. Pine Bluff finished with 13 points ahead of both the Derby winner Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee
Lil E. Tee was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1992 scored one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby.-Background:...
with 10 points, Belmont winner A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy
A.P. Indy is a champion stallion Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky, USA, by William Farish III and William Kilroy. He is known for his ancestry, his own record, and his successful progeny. He was sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew through mare Weekend Surprise, who herself was sired...
with 10 points and Casual Lies with 8 points.
Retirement
Pine Bluff's racing career ended only a few weeks after the Belmont, when he took a misstep during a routine training run and tore a ligamentLigament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
in his left foreleg. He finished his racing career with a record of six wins, one second and four third place finishes in 13 total starts for career earnings of $2,255,884. Pine Bluff's "In-the-Money" percentage of 85% (11 of 13 races) ranked him among the top 20 thoroughbreds in history on the date of his retirement. Retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty, he sired twenty-nine stakes race
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...
winners and was pensioned in 2006.