Thank you Ginger Punch
Ginger Punch prepping at Belmont for the 2008 Beldame (Jason Moran)
As usual, Frank is right. In a passage about Ginger Punch he points out:
But in the media or around the blogosphere, there was virtually no discussion of or appreciation for Stronach’s decision to bring the champ back or the horse’s consistent excellence.
Today it was announced that the champion 5yo mare with 6 G1 wins who was in the money in 20 of 21 starts (12/6/2) was retired. Annoying that there’s only a tiny article on DRF with nothing that I could find at the Bloodhorse or Thoroughbred Times.
The best race I saw live this year hands down was Ginger Punch’s win in the Go For Wand where she was completely boxed in and had a make a hole in the stretch. After the race I was standing by fence hoping to get a good photo of her as they took her back to the barn. As she walked by, the crowd really cheered for her. A man with a very professional looking camera was also on hand. He yelled the most sincere and gushing “you’re the best Ginger Punch, a real champion!” as she walked by. I’ve been lucky enough to see her run many times in person, and even when she didn’t win, she never disappointed.
In the clip of last year’s Go For Wand (below), Moss and Bailey (presumably) tell the story about how owner Frank Stronach wanted to retire her to the shed after her 3yo campaign in 2006. It took her 4 tries to break her maiden and then she won 1 mid level allowance and placed in one. Her trainer Bobby Frankel told Stronach that if he brought her back the following year that he promised he could get her a G1. How about 3, including the Breeders’ Cup Distaff AND the overwhelming winner of 2007 Eclipse award for Older Female!
Many thanks to Stronach, Frankel and most of all, Ginger Punch!
2008 Personal Ensign:
2008 Go For Wand:
2008 Ogden Phipps:
2008 Louisville Stakes:
2008 Sunshine Millions Distaff:
2007 BC Distaff:
2007 Go For Wand:
2007 Allowance (on Derby Day at Churchill):
Posted by dana on Oct 27 2008
Filed Under: Ginger Punch, Farewell, 2008, Jason Moran, YouTube, Bobby Frankel, Fans, Let Horses Race, Retirement, Race Replay, Racing
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She is by far one of my favorite horses to come around in a long time. I’m so happy that I was on hand to see her run a number of times. One thing I will miss, especially as someone who likes to watch the horses work out, is her uniquely perfect blaze. You could spot her a mile away. No saddle cloth is needed when she is on the track her signature blaze screams out Ginger Punch.
Most fans and the media cannot forgive or forget what Stronach has single handedly done to destroy the game via his vision.
Regretably, sentimentality for Ginger Punch is collateral damage.
Dana–kudos
I saw both the Go for Wand and Personal Ensign in person this year at the Spa-I love Ginger Punch. The duel with Lemon Drop Mom in the Personal Ensign had the house rocking that day at the spa.
Jason - you definitely got some great shots of her!
John - fair point, certainly not always easy to look past the ownership
Robert - thanks! and yeah, I watched that one on the OTB channel as I wasn’t able to get to the spa… FANtastic!
And she did it with a quarter crack for the last six months or so.
Thanks, Dana, for covering this terrific horse!
Also, can I share your perspective on how often I’m right with my wife? :-)
Dana,
I LOVE the way you line up all the videos! Although, you’re tempting me to blow a half-hour of the day watching them all again . . .
Ginger Punch could do it from the inside (Go for Wand) or outside (Phipps), fight through traffic, take down a powerful runaway leader, basically do it all. I thought she was rolling toward a possible backdoor Horse of the Year title earlier this summer, but it was not to be. Sorry she had to go out on the Pro-Ride. Would have loved a final confrontation on neutral dirt with Zenyatta, who she might not have beaten anyway.
Trackback: Plenty of Punch
Fran - wow, I had no idea!
Frank - my pleasure, and sure, I could take a shot!
John S - thx! hope you did blow the half an hour… but then again, they’ll always be here.
yeah, it would have been nice for her to go out with more of a bang. I thought her run in the Beldame was really great, she fought all the way in the stretch, no shame in that!
I had a great spot along the fence for her Go For Wand win. Definitely one of the highlights of my weekend in Saratoga.
Kevin - nice… being on the fence at Saratoga rocks + I love that race