Scrappy T
Encyclopedia
Scrappy T was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. A descendant of Sunny's Halo
, he was sired by Fit to Fight by breeder Upson Downs Farm. Scrappy T was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his near fatal collision with Afleet Alex
and gutsy runner-up finish in the 2005 Preakness Stakes
.
at 11-1. His next step was a start in the grade three Whirlaway Stakes
on Feb. 12, he raced uncharacteristically off the lead and dug down in the stretch to finish third, missing first by 1-1/2 lengths.
Scrappy T came back to race in the Wood Memorial Stakes
as his final triple crown prep but was no match for Bellamy Road
. No one else in the field that day was either, as Bellamy Road went on to win the Wood by a record margin. After that defeat, Bailes and Dowell thought twice about sending Scrappy T to the Kentucky Derby and thought it was best to sharpen his skills a little closer to home.
Marshall E. Dowell’s Scrappy T, who was removed from Kentucky Derby consideration after finishing third to Bellamy Road in the Wood Memorial Stakes in April, found the competition more to his liking in the grade three $150,000 Withers Stakes
at Aqueduct Racetrack
as he posted a one-length victory over six challengers. Pressing the early pace set by War Plan, the Fit to Fight gelding took charge turning for home and dug in gamely to hold off a late run by Park Avenue Ball. War Plan held on for third as Scrappy T covered the one-turn mile in 1:35 on a sealed track listed as good.
. In that contest Scrappy T was listed on the morning line as the eleventh choice at 20-1 in a full field of fourteen stakes winners in the second jewel of the Triple Crown
. The vast majority of public support was wagered on the top three finishers in the Derby, they were Afleet Alex
, Giacomo and Closing Argument
.
As the gates opened, Scrappy T had the best break and cleared the entire field and all traffic. Going into Pimlico
's famous club house turn, speedy Going Wild led the field followed by High Limit, Scrappy T and Galloping Grocer. Down the back stretch High Limit pulled in front and he led for a good half mile followed by Going Wild. Jockey Ramon Dominguez wrestled with Scrappy T to settle down and conserve some energy and he held him back in third. Then on the far turn, Scrappy T seized control of the race and took the lead. In the meantime Preakness favorite Afleet Alex
weaved his way through traffic and came up on the outside flank of Scrappy T. Dominguez hit Scrappy T with a left-handed whip to get his colt to accelerate. Tasting his first left-handed whip, Scrappy T veered out to the right suddenly and blew the turn. While Afleet Alex was attepting to pass Scrappy T he was knocked down to his knees by the interference. Jeremy Rose somehow righted Afleet Alex and demonstrated that they were the most athletic horse that day by sprinting to a four and three quarter length win. Scrappy T proved his worth that day by placing second in an American Classic
and beating the Derby winner Giacomo and millionaire Sun King by five and six lengths respectively. He earned $200,000 for that runner-up finish but decided to skip the Belmont Stakes.
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...
. A descendant of Sunny's Halo
Sunny's Halo
Sunny's Halo was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became only the second Canadian-bred to win the Kentucky Derby and who as of 2006 is the all-time leading sire by progeny earnings in the state of Texas....
, he was sired by Fit to Fight by breeder Upson Downs Farm. Scrappy T was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his near fatal collision with Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex is an American thoroughbred race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes...
and gutsy runner-up finish in the 2005 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...
.
Early career
His trainer, Robbie Bailes picked out Scrappy T at an auction in Florida at the Ocala Breeders Sale as a two year-old and bought him for $35,000 for owner Marshall Dowell of Mechanicsville, Virginia. Scrappy T trained in a small unassuming work stable at the dilapidated Bowie Training Center. After breaking his maiden at Delaware Park, he received no respect from the public when racing in New York. He finished second in his New York stakes debut at odds of 23-1 and two races later won the Count Fleet StakesCount Fleet Stakes
The Count Fleet Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run at Aqueduct Racetrack, located in Jamaica, New York, at the beginning of January each year...
at 11-1. His next step was a start in the grade three Whirlaway Stakes
Whirlaway Stakes
The Whirlaway Stakes is a race for Thoroughbred horses held in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Whirlaway Stakes is open to three-year-olds willing to race one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. It is an ungraded event offering a purse of $100,000 added...
on Feb. 12, he raced uncharacteristically off the lead and dug down in the stretch to finish third, missing first by 1-1/2 lengths.
Scrappy T came back to race in 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....
as his final triple crown prep but was no match for Bellamy Road
Bellamy Road
The Bellamy Road was the first major U.S. federal highway in early territorial Florida.In 1824, only five years after Florida became a United States territory , Congress authorized the construction of its first federal highway. It would be a wide road, connecting Pensacola to St. Augustine...
. No one else in the field that day was either, as Bellamy Road went on to win the Wood by a record margin. After that defeat, Bailes and Dowell thought twice about sending Scrappy T to the Kentucky Derby and thought it was best to sharpen his skills a little closer to home.
Marshall E. Dowell’s Scrappy T, who was removed from Kentucky Derby consideration after finishing third to Bellamy Road in the Wood Memorial Stakes in April, found the competition more to his liking in the grade three $150,000 Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
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:...
as he posted a one-length victory over six challengers. Pressing the early pace set by War Plan, the Fit to Fight gelding took charge turning for home and dug in gamely to hold off a late run by Park Avenue Ball. War Plan held on for third as Scrappy T covered the one-turn mile in 1:35 on a sealed track listed as good.
Preakness Stakes
After such an impressive performance in winning the Withers, Scrappy T and his connections decided to take a step up in class and take on the nation's best three year-olds in the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans," the grade one Preakness StakesPreakness 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...
. In that contest Scrappy T was listed on the morning line as the eleventh choice at 20-1 in a full field of fourteen stakes winners in the second jewel 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...
. The vast majority of public support was wagered on the top three finishers in the Derby, they were Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex is an American thoroughbred race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes...
, Giacomo and Closing Argument
Closing Argument
Closing Argument is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. The son of Successful Appeal really turned out to be a game colt in the spring of 2005...
.
As the gates opened, Scrappy T had the best break and cleared the entire field and all traffic. Going into Pimlico
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
's famous club house turn, speedy Going Wild led the field followed by High Limit, Scrappy T and Galloping Grocer. Down the back stretch High Limit pulled in front and he led for a good half mile followed by Going Wild. Jockey Ramon Dominguez wrestled with Scrappy T to settle down and conserve some energy and he held him back in third. Then on the far turn, Scrappy T seized control of the race and took the lead. In the meantime Preakness favorite Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex
Afleet Alex is an American thoroughbred race horse who, in 2005, won two of America's classic races, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes...
weaved his way through traffic and came up on the outside flank of Scrappy T. Dominguez hit Scrappy T with a left-handed whip to get his colt to accelerate. Tasting his first left-handed whip, Scrappy T veered out to the right suddenly and blew the turn. While Afleet Alex was attepting to pass Scrappy T he was knocked down to his knees by the interference. Jeremy Rose somehow righted Afleet Alex and demonstrated that they were the most athletic horse that day by sprinting to a four and three quarter length win. Scrappy T proved his worth that day by placing second in an American Classic
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...
and beating the Derby winner Giacomo and millionaire Sun King by five and six lengths respectively. He earned $200,000 for that runner-up finish but decided to skip the Belmont Stakes.