A 6-year-old son of Point Given trained by Bill Mott, Go Between won eight of 27 starts, with 13 second- or third-place finishes, while earning $2,908,880. With his trademark late-running style, Go Between also won the Virginia Derby (gr. IIT), Fayette Stakes (gr. III), Palm Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT), Sunshine Millions Classic, Unbridled Breeders’ Cup Handicap, and Cherokee River Stables Classic Stakes.
To me Go Between was a staple of the older horse division, you could almost always count on him to be entered. I always found him to be a wild card that I was never sure how to factor.
Here are a couple of his winning efforts, both from last year. Rest in Peace Go Between, and many thanks and condolences to his connections.
Wanderin’ Boy winning the 2007 Alysheba at Churchill (twinspiresdotcom)
This break in blogging is interrupted by sad news. Awful news in fact. As you might know by now, GbG fav Wanderin’ Boy broke down going into the stretch in the otherwise exciting Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, and was subsequently euthanized after being vanned off.
Just about 2 months ago Steve Haskin had a wonderful (a word I don’t use too often) profile of Wanderin’ Boy, one you should definitely read. The comments are also very touching.
At age 7, Wanderin Boy has made only 24 career starts, winning nine, with six seconds and three thirds for earnings of $1.2 million. Talk about not choosing one’s company wisely, he has finished second in grade I stakes to Curlin (Jockey Club Gold Cup), Invasor (Pimlico Special), Bernardini (Jockey Club Gold Cup), and Lawyer Ron (Whitney). He has, however, managed to win the grade II Brooklyn Handicap and the grade III Ben Ali, Alysheba, and Mineshaft.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, ‘OK, so what’s the point?’
The point is, a horse like Wanderin Boy – and I emphasize the word “horse” rather than gelding – often goes unnoticed because he’s never done anything that would cause people to pay a whole lot of attention to him, other than to say something like, “It was another good effort by Wanderin Boy, but he was no match for….”
But there often is much more to a horse than his record. In Wanderin Boy’s case, this is a horse who should be admired by all those fortunate enough to see him run his heart out race after race.
Haskin goes on to detail Wanderin’ Boy’s astonishingly resilient journey, littered with injuries and miraculous recoveries starting when he was a month old. It makes his final injury even more vexing given that he’s recovered so many times.
His last 3 efforts were very game. I saw his win opening weekend at Saratoga this summer in a 100k Optional Claimer (no replay available at YouTube) but his efforts in the Woodward and Jockey Club were just as game. He made Curlin work for that $10M in the JCGC and for a second it looked like he was gonna win.
My heart goes out to his connections, after all that he’s been through this must have been a devastating blow. Rest in peace Wanderin’ Boy. And here’s hoping that the Demoiselle winner, Springside, recovers from her injury today as well.
Particularly sad as he was prepping for his last race prior to retiring to stud as 8yo… eight! I had no idea. His stellar 2007 Bernard Baruch isn’t on YouTube, if turns up I’ll add it here.
2008 Bernard Baruch:
Kiaran McLaughlin Interview after the 2008 Bernard Baruch:
2007 Manhattan:
Rest in Peace Shakis and many condolences to your connections.
Red Giant, after setting a world record in what would be his last race (Charles Pravata)
One of the small niggling things that I felt I would be missing out on this Breeders’ Cup was watching and wagering on Red Giant in the Turf. Sadly that won’t be haunting me now… as of this morning, not only is he out of the Breeders’ Cup, but he’s been retired. Why? A fever.
The 4-year-old Giant’s Causeway colt was scheduled to breeze this morning at Santa Anita. A routine temperature check showed the colt had a fever and a decision was made by trainer Todd Pletcher and owner John Fort of Peachtree Stable to skip the work and withdraw Red Giant from the race.
“We have been monitoring him closely this morning, and there’s been no change,” said Pletcher. “I spoke with John, and the horse will be retired to stud as planned. It’s very disappointing. The Breeders’ Cup was to be his last race.”
I suppose it’s not THAT outlandish since he was scheduled to be retired after the BC, but it’s still annoying. He had returned this year and was not only 2 for 2 but had just set a world record over the Santa Anita turf in the Clement L. Hirsch going 1 1/4 miles in 1:57.16:
Get well soon, and thanks for the memories. Too bad you didn’t get a chance to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf!
Tough Tiz’s Sis at Belmont prior to her career ending work out (EASY GOER)
All I have to say is UGH.
According to trainer Bob Baffert, Tough Tiz’s Sis took an awkward step at the end of the workout. Baffert said an exam revealed the “beginning of a condylar fracture” in her right front. “It makes you sick to your stomach; she was peaking at the right time.”
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