Euroears Says Goodbye to the Track

On April 24, 2010, I stood along the rail at Lone Star Park as the field for the Texas Mile Stakes (GIII) made their way to the saddling paddock. I was familiar with several horses in the field and had seen many of them race before. I’d seen the eventual winner – Mythical Power – win the Lone Star Derby (GIII) the year before. I’d also watched Jonesboro – one of my personal favorites – race several times before, including his win in the 2009 Texas Mile. Also in the field was another personal favorite of mine, King Dan, who was trained by Dallas Keen, who I knew through the rescue he runs with his wife, Donna: Remember Me Rescue.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

Little did I know, walking towards me along the rail was a horse that would capture my heart forever.  When I set sight on the stocky chestnut, my eyes widened as I realized how beautiful the horse was. The features of his face were very refined, including a bright eye. The white stripe on his face was made unique by two tiny brown spots in the middle of it. He carried himself with extreme class and as he moved past me, I was able to realize how well-built he was. He was a very well-balanced individual, possessing a long, sloping shoulder that allowed him to be evenly divided into thirds and have a shorter topline in relation to a longer underline. He was very muscular, having bulging forearms and gaskins and was wide through the chest and from stifle to stifle. With all of those characteristics plus being structurally correct, the Bret Calhoun trainee was an impeccable individual. I declared Euroears the most beautiful horse I’d ever seen.

Euroears ended up finishing second, crossing the wire just a neck behind the Bob Baffert-trained Mythical Power. With his dazzling beauty and gutsy performance, Euroears had captured my heart.

I saw him about a month later when he finished third in the mile and one-sixteenth Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII). I relished seeing him again, as I knew it was very likely the last time I would see him.

Flash back to three years earlier. Following a nine and one-half length victory in his debut at Lone Star, Euroears wheeled off five more consecutive victories, including wins in the F. W. Gaudin Memorial Stakes, Colonel Power Stakes, and Duncan F. Kenner Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Between those wins and his graded stakes efforts at Lone Star Park in 2010, Euroears won the Thanksgiving Handicap at Fair Grounds. All these races came for trainer Bret Calhoun. His last start for Calhoun came in a disappointing effort in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) on the turf at Churchill Downs.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

Euroears did not return to the races until January of 2011. He was now in the hands of Bob Baffert in Southern California, where he had fired six bullets in the morning. He made his seven-year-old debut in the Palos Verdes Stakes (GII) at Santa Anita, drawing off to defeat five other talented horses, including the multiple grade one-winning Smiling Tiger, by two and one-quarter lengths. The final time for six furlongs was a dazzling 1:07.23.

His victory was enough to garner him a position in the starting gate in Dubai, where he took on some of the world’s best sprinters in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) in his next start. After setting the pace at Meydan, the chestnut fought valiantly to finish second to the multiple grade one-winning Singapore-based Rocket Man.

Euroears returned to the United States, but did not start again until the end of July, when he made a start in the Bing Crosby Stakes (GI). As usual, the strapping chestnut took the lead immediately and posted blazing fractions. He never looked back as he flew across the synthetic surface, his impressive muscles carrying him with tremendous speed along the track. He earned his first grade one victory by a length and one-quarter, leaving behind him the multiple grade one-winning Smiling Tiger, the eventual 2011 Champion Sprinter Amazombie, and the 2010 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner, Kinsale King. Not only had he impressively defeated several talented sprinters, he had broken the Del Mar track record for six furlongs.

Euroears’ last four starts weren’t exactly up to par. He finished eighth in the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI), in which he was impeded after the start. His effort in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) was very disappointing, as he was never really himself and faded to finish last. He rebounded slightly in the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes (GIII) at Hollywood Park after Thanksgiving, finishing fourth. In his final start, which came today in the Palos Verdes at Santa Anita, he broke poorly and didn't show his usual spark yet again, finishing fourth.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

Though Euroears’ start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint was disappointing, I was able to catch my final glimpses of him on the track while he was under the Twin Spires for the championship races. A couple days before the Breeders’ Cup races began, as I was standing along the rail of the clubhouse turn at Churchill Downs, I saw a stocky chestnut jogging towards me. I scrutinized the horse and once I noticed the distinguishable face marking, I screeched Euroears’ name with excitement. The chestnut pricked his ears as he neared me and his exercise rider smiled at me as the pair jogged by. I kept my eyes glued to “my boy” as he jogged down the track. It was a relief to see him again.

Joyfully, I watched other Breeders’ Cup horses jog by, but I was on edge, waiting for Euroears to gallop by. Before long, I caught sight of the copper-colored horse galloping around the clubhouse turn. I fixed my camera on him, my eyes lighting up as he galloped in front of me. A couple days later, I would admire him along the rail one final time as he headed to post in the Sprint.

Euroears has taken me on a journey I never would have imagined a horse would take me on. It’s not often that a horse that dominantly breaks its maiden at my home track – Lone Star – goes on to win a grade one in track record-breaking fashion, let alone race in Dubai or at the Breeders’ Cup. I am very grateful to have seen Euroears in person several times.

He will now stand stud at JEH Stallion Station in Oklahoma and will breed to both Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred mares. Euroears will now live out his days at JEH, which is where he belongs. Jim and Marilyn Helzer – who have owned Euroears since the beginning of his career – founded JEH in 1994. If there is anywhere Euroears should stay for the rest of his life, it’s with the Helzers.

About 150 miles south of the Oklahoma division of JEH Stallion Station is the track that started it all for Euroears: Lone Star Park. Someday, I hope to see sons and daughters there and at other tracks across the world, displaying the same scintillating speed as their sire.

Thanks for the memories, Euroears!

Photo: Terri Cage

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Breeders' Cup Sprint

The Breeders’ Cup Sprint could be described as a clash of titans that are faster than any other Thoroughbreds on the planet at short distances. The 2011 edition will feature some of my personal favorites, including a horse that has become a blazing bullet. Expect legs working like pistons, the thunder of hooves over the dirt surface, the battling of Thoroughbred champions, and a quick final time. It’s time for the elite sprinters to take center stage; it’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint time.

Here are my top four picks for the Sprint:

1. Euroears: I know him as the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen. I fell in love with Euroears in the spring of 2010, when I saw him in person twice. I knew who he was: a hero in the South, especially in Louisiana. For several years, the son of Langfuhr was trained by Bret Calhoun, who has made quite the name for himself, especially in the South.

Euroears won his first six starts, three of which were stakes races. Euroears formed a string of three disappointing losses when he visited Churchill Downs, Penn National, and Philadelphia Park. Then came two consecutive victories, one of which he garnered another stakes victory in Louisiana. After two losses in stakes races at the Fair Grounds, trainer Bret Calhoun brought the horse, six years old at the time, to Lone Star Park for the horse’s first try at graded stakes company.

Euroears
Photo: Terri Cage

That’s when I first saw Euroears in person. As soon as the gleaming chestnut came into my view, I noted his impeccable conformation. He was as stout as a quarter horse, exhibiting quality muscling, and carried himself like a champion, arching his neck and traveling with class. He finished second by a neck in the Texas Mile Stakes (GIII) before finishing third in the Lone Star Park Handicap (GIII) at a mile and one-sixteenth. In his final start for Bret Calhoun, Euroears finished a disappointing thirteenth in the Firecracker Handicap (GII) over the Churchill Downs turf course.

Then he was transferred to Bob Baffert’s barn in southern California. He recorded breathtaking workouts before winning the Palos Verdes Stakes (GII) at Santa Anita by 2 ¼ lengths in a brisk final time of 1:07.23 for six furlongs.

Bob Baffert was so confident in the seven-year-old that he shipped him to Dubai for just his second start under his care. Euroears finished a very strong second behind Rocket Man in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) before returning to California.

Euroears did not run again until the very last day of July, when he won the Bing Crosby Stakes (GI) in track record time. He’d proved he was the best sprinter in southern California. Baffert, who is extremely high on the incredibly quick horse, ran Euroears in the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park next out.

Unfortunately, Rajiv Maragh came over on Calibrachoa not long after the start and impeded Euroears, causing him to bump into Apriority, which removed any chance the son of Langfuhr had. The careless riding was very similar to the incident Maragh caused in the Belmont Stakes (GI) earlier in the year. Euroear’s performance in the Vosburgh should have a line drawn through it, as he had no chance after the incident.

In his most recent work, Euroears worked five furlongs at Santa Anita, completing the workout in an incredible final time of 56.60, which is faster than the track record. Don’t be worried about how fast he went, though. He was not being asked and it is completely normal for Euroears to go blazingly fast in the mornings. What makes him dangerous is he is just as blazingly fast, if not faster, in the afternoons as he is in the mornings.

Big Drama winning the 2010
Breeders' Cup Sprint
Photo: Terri Cage

2. Big Drama: He’s the defending champ of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Two months after winning the championship race, the son of Montbrook set a track record at Gulfstream Park in winning the Mr. Prospector Stakes (GIII). However, he did not race again for nearly eight months, as his connections decided to give him some time off.

On September 4, the 2010 Male Sprinter of the Year returned with a 2 ¼-length win in the Whippleton Stakes, a $75,000 stakes at his home track of Calder. He was expected to make his final prep for the Breeders’ Cup in the Vosburgh, but a fever kept him out of it.

The five-year-old worked between races at Calder on October 15, going six furlongs in 1:13.80. His most recent work was a bullet work in company with Apriority at Calder, in which he traveled 1:00.40 for five furlongs. The reigning champion is training very well, but I worry that he is not on top of his game. He’s only raced twice this year and has not been tested. Big Drama is still a very good horse, but I worry that he may not be as good as he once was.

3. Amazombie: A hard-knocking California-bred, Amazombie has not finished out of the money this year, which has been his only year to ever compete in stakes races. In fact, every single one of his races this year has been a stakes race. Of his eight starts in 2011, five of Amazombie’s races have been graded stakes. By Northern Afleet, the five-year-old is coming off a win in the Ancient Title Stakes (GI).

Amazombie has finished first three times this year, all at sprinting distances. He is extremely consistent and one of the classiest sprinters around. The William Spawr trainee is training very well at Santa Anita. His last work came on October 22, when he worked a half-mile in 46.60. He has failed to keep up with Euroears, but Amazombie will surely give it his all on Breeders’ Cup weekend.

4. Giant Ryan: To string together six consecutive victories is not an easy feat, but Giant Ryan has done it. Raced primarily in New York and Florida, the son of Freud has made his last two victories graded stakes, including the Vosburgh.

The five-year-old does not get the respect he deserves. This is likely because he has not competed much at the highest level, but how can you disrespect a horse that has defeated some of the top sprinters in the nation in his last two starts? Of course, people believe his win in the Vosburgh was on a speed-biased track, but the New York-bred has done nothing but win since March. He faces a tall task in the Breeders’ Cup, but he is definitely a horse that knows how to win.

Honorable Mention:
Trappe Shot: I’ve followed him for nearly two years and he has become extremely impressive at sprinting distances. He finished a disappointing fourth in the Vosburgh last out, but he looms dangerous. Dirt Mile is his first preference.

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Did You Know...?

Photo: Terri Cage

This blog post is a bit different than the others I’ve written. Instead of writing an article, I decided I would write a list of “Did you know…?” questions about horses pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup.

Did you know that…?

·         BC Marathon contender Birdrun is a former claimer, having won a maiden claiming at Saratoga by over ten lengths as a three-year-old

·         If Holiday for Kitten runs in the BC Turf Sprint and wins, she will be the first filly or mare to win the race, though females have contested in the race nine times

·         The dam of BC “Win and You’re in” Natalma Stakes (GIII) winner Northern Passion  also ran in the Natalma, finishing fourth, beaten just 2 ¼ lengths

·         Dual grade one-winning juvenile filly Weemissfrankie, who so far has raced solely in California, is New York-bred

·         BC Juvenile or Juvenile Turf contender Dullahan is a half-brother to Mine That Bird

·         If Turbulent Descent wins the BC Filly & Mare Sprint, she will have won four grade one races at four different tracks

·         Jackson Bend did not win any races last year, but if he wins the BC Dirt Mile, he will have three victories this year, including two grade ones

·         If Goldikova wins the BC Mile for the fourth year in a row, she will surpass $8 million in earnings

·         Top BC Juvenile contenders Union Rags, Creative Cause, and Hansen have won eight races together, with a combined winning margin of 49 ½ lengths

·         The dam of America’s top candidate for the BC Filly & Mare Turf, Stacelita, was a stakes winner

·         In the last sixty days, BC Sprint contender Euroears has had four bullet works

·         Secret Circle, possible starter in either the BC Juvenile Sprint or Juvenile, has won his first two starts by a total winning margin of 12 ½ lengths

·         Mike Smith rode BC Ladies’ Classic contender Zazu in three of her first four starts

·         BC Turf contender Dean’s Kitten has only finished off the board once this year in seven starts

·         BC Classic contender Uncle Mo has had two bullet works in the last sixty days


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