Conventional wisdom in Thoroughbred racing and breeding states that a horse born earlier in the foaling season is going to be more physically mature than one born near the end of it when they meet on the racetrack and are considered to be the same age in the eyes of The Jockey Club.
A study by British and Canadian researchers affirmed that axiom, concluding that runners born earlier in the foaling season made more money during their 2-year-old and 3-year-old racing seasons in the U.K. and Ireland than those born later in the year.
The study also found that runners who sold for more money at auction tended to race less often during those first two years on the track than their less expensive counterparts, but they earned more prize money, both in total and per start.
The study involved 28,282 horses, encompassing all horses born in the U.K. and Ireland during the 2014 and 2015 foaling seasons.
Of the horses that raced at least once by age three, the study found that 34 percent had not earned any prize money by the end of their 2-year-old season, and 19 percent had no prize money by the end of their sophomore campaign.
The decline in average prize earnings for foals born later in the season was significant. For 2-year-olds, both total earnings and earnings per start fell by three percent for every week after Jan. 1 that a horse was born, and the chances of making no money on the year increased by three percent per week. Three-year-olds saw a two percent drop in earnings per week born after Jan. 1, and the chances of earning no money rose by three percent per week.
Among sale graduates in the study, just 17 percent of those sold as weanlings made back their purchase price on the racetrack through their 3-year-old season, while 13 percent of horses sold as yearlings surpassed their sale price after their sophomore campaign.
Yearlings that brought 6,666 guineas or less, the study's lowest price bracket, made an average of 7.8 starts through the end of their 3-year-old seasons and earned an average of £5,241 (US$5,846) in that timespan, with an average of £588 (US$656) per start.
On the other side of the spectrum, yearlings that sold for 48,000 guineas, the study's highest bracket, average 6.9 starts through their sophomore season, for average total earnings of £15,462 (US$17,250) and per-start earnings of £2,065 (US$2,303).
It was just a regular afternoon in the South Florida barber shop: young Cuban immigrant Andy Hernandez was preparing to give a customer a haircut as he had done nearly every day since the age of 15, but Hernandez couldn't have known that the man in his chair would change his life forever.
When Hernandez happened to mention that he liked horse racing, the patron offered to broker an introduction to Diosdado Iglesias, a Thoroughbred trainer in Florida who'd emigrated from Cuba after the downturn of the country's Oriental Park Racetrack in the late 1950s.
Iglesias, also a former jockey, took Hernandez under his wing and taught him everything he knew about the Thoroughbred horse.
Five years after that fateful meeting, Hernandez is now a top apprentice jockey based at Parx. Last weekend, Hernandez was filled with emotion when he won his first graded stakes race aboard That's Right, pumping his fist in the air as he crossed the wire in front. It was also the first graded stakes win for the 3-year-old's trainer, Michael Moore.
“It was unbelievable,” Hernandez said. “I just want to thank the trainer with all my heart, not only for the opportunity to ride the horse, but also for the trust they had in me.”
That trust, and Hernandez' subsequent ability to deliver on the connections' faith, must have felt surreal to the 22-year-old apprentice.
Hernandez grew up the youngest of four children supported by a single mother in Cuba, so though he'd always liked horses, he was never able to spend much time around them. His job as a barber helped his mother pay the bills, and when he moved to the United States in 2018, that skill helped Hernandez keep food on the table.
Still, the horses were like a siren song, constantly playing in the background.
When the connection from the barber shop was first made, Iglesias must have recognized that passion in Hernandez. He made the offer: if Hernandez was willing to put in the work, Iglesias would share his knowledge.
“[Iglesias] taught me everything about horses,” Hernandez said. “He taught me how to train them, how to race them, everything that is going to happen in a race, how to come out of the gates, everything. The most important thing he taught me was honesty; he's a very honest man.”
When Hernandez was ready, his mentor helped him get a job galloping at Gulfstream Park for trainer David Brownlee.
“It's funny because when I first galloped for him on the racetrack, I didn't understand so much English,” Hernandez admitted. “He would tell me to back the horse up to the eighth pole, then gallop around to the six furlong pole and then jog home. Well, I didn't understand, and he looked at my face and knew right away.
“He didn't get mad. He would lean down and draw in the dirt where to go and how to do it, so every day since it was pretty much the same thing, that's how I started learning English.”
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Brownlee gave Hernandez his first mount as a jockey at Gulfstream in April of 2021, but Hernandez would only wind up riding three races at the Hallandale Beach oval due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions: Hernandez wasn't riding enough races to make a living as a jockey just yet, but jockeys were not allowed to gallop horses on the backstretch at that time.
It was an extremely difficult situation for an up-and-coming apprentice jockey, especially considering the fact that Hernandez' English was spotty at best and he hadn't made a ton of other friends around the racetrack.
Hernandez could have fallen back on his barbershop skills, but he really wanted to pursue his riding career full time. Iglesias offered Hernandez a spot to continue learning at Delaware Park, and helped the young rider with a place to stay until he got on his feet.
Agent Jim Boulmetis doesn't remember who suggested he watch an apprentice ride at Delaware, but he was impressed by what he saw.
Hernandez remembers the introduction differently: “The day Jimmy saw me race, I only rode one horse that day. Luckily I won it!”
Boulmetis, the son of a Hall of Fame jockey and a former-trainer-turned-jockey's agent, invited Hernandez to join him at Parx.
“I had no money to rent myself a spot, so I came from Delaware without anything,” Hernandez said. “I could have been living in the stables. I was scared and excited all at the same time, but Jimmy has become more like a friend than an agent.”
Trainer Leslye Bouchard and her husband Oclide Mino took Hernandez into their home until he could get a place of his own, and the couple were some of his biggest supporters in the beginning.
It is Hernandez' talent and personality that have since allowed his career to blossom at the Pennsylvania track.
“He has all the attributes, the personality, the work ethic, and the drive,” said Boulmetis. “His personality carries him a long way; he's very likable. He's just the same every day, always happy, always in a good mood, always positive. That attitude is his biggest thing, other than his ability.”
After winning just two races in Delaware and moving to Parx in September, Hernandez wound up winning 23 races in 2021. This year, the apprentice has added 96 more winners to his tally, including the graded stakes victory with That's Right.
Andy Hernandez celebrates his first graded stakes win with That's Right
Trainer Mike Moore talked to the Parx media office about the decision to stick with Hernandez on such a big day.
“Believe me, you get people saying, 'All these good riders coming in here, you don't want to use one of these guys?'” Moore said. “He has done nothing wrong on him, and he helps me a lot in the morning. We stuck with him.”
“Mike has been a supporter of Andy from the beginning,” Boulmetis explained. “I've been friends with Mike for a few years, and he's always helped me out as an agent, so when I brought Andy there it just clicked. Andy's won with 25 or 30 percent of the mounts that he's ridden for Mike.
“The other thing that I'd like to say is how much Andy and I appreciate that owner and Mike for giving Andy the opportunity to ride in a Grade 3 race when most of the better riders in the country were there that day. They stuck with him – that was huge. We talked about it after, and Mike said it just wouldn't have meant as much if somebody else had ridden the horse; it was more or less like a family affair. There aren't many apprentices that win graded stakes.”
From a South Florida barber shop to the winner's circle of a $300,000 race in Pennsylvania, Hernandez remains cognizant of all the help he's gotten along the way.
“Maybe some trainers would think that race was too difficult for an apprentice rider, and the horse was like the second favorite in the race,” Hernandez said. “It meant so much because (the trainer) still trusted me to do the right thing, and he let me ride that horse.”
Special thanks to Liset Almora for her help with the interview for this feature.
9th-Belmont The Big A, $77,000, (S), Msw, 9-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:13.75, ft, 3/4 length. SHADOW DRAGON (c, 2, Army Mule–Fire Assay {GSP, $127,946}, by Medaglia d'Oro), dispatched at a tepid 7-1 in his first start since bringing $375,000 at OBSAPR off a :21 1/5 breeze, was forced towards the rail at the break and quickly found himself trailing the field with only one rival beat. Kept just off the rail into the far turn, he angled out at the top of the stretch and began picking off horses under a left-handed ride, closing resolutely with a furlong to run. Still sixth just past the sixteenth pole, Shadow Dragon dug in, passing tiring rivals to his inside, and cleared past pacesetter Looms Boldly (Goldencents) late for the three-quarter length win. The 17th winner for his freshman sire (by Friesan Fire), Shadow Dragon is out of a daughter of MGISW Jostle (Brocco). His dam produced a yearling colt by Liam's Map and a weanling colt by Practical Joke before being bred to Tacitus for the 2023 season. Sales History: $105,000 Ylg '21 FTKOCT; $375,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $42,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart.
O-Peachtree Stable; B-AJ Suited (NY); T-William I. Mott.
West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing's Battle of Normandy will report for duty against a wide open field of a dozen juvenile colts assembled for Sunday's 44th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Pilgrim going 1 1/16 miles on the outer turf during the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
The Pilgrim is one of three graded stakes events on Sunday's program, and is a Breeders' Cup “Win And You're In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on November 4 at Keeneland. Also featured on the card are the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette – a “Win And You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies – and the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya.
Since the inception of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2007, the Pilgrim has been a notable steppingstone for the Juvenile Turf and has produced three horses to win both events – Oscar Performance [2016], Structor [2019] and Fire At Will [2020].
Battle of Normandy, trained by two-time Pilgrim-winning Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, was a late rallying second in the Grade 3 With Anticipation on August 31 over good inner turf at Saratoga Race Course, finishing a neck behind victorious 23-1 upset winner Boppy O. The son of freshman sire City of Light broke from the rail in the With Anticipation, maintained his inside position when fourth down the backstretch and made a strong bid in the stretch once he was in the clear, but was beaten a neck under Kendrick Carmouche.
The With Anticipation effort came one start following a triumphant career debut, where Battle of Normandy displayed similar stalking tactics and won by 2 3/4 lengths.
“We tried him back in the With Anticipation and we thought he ran a great race,” said Woodford Racing partner Ben Haggin. “He was stuck down there on the inside with the inside post and Kendrick told us he thought he ran a better race than his first one. Once he got him in the clear and was able to change leads and fully extend, he came running. Shug agreed that he ran a great race that day.”
Haggin, who operates Woodford Racing with Lane's End Farm manager Bill Farish, spoke volumes of the relationship established with West Point Thoroughbreds. The two racing operations have recently joined forces with other partnerships in the purchasing and campaigning of multiple notable horses, such as the sensational Grade 1-winner Flightline as well as graded stakes winners First Captain and Promise Keeper.
“That relationship with Woodford Racing and West Point has been great for both parties,” Haggin said. “We're buying mostly colts, but nice ones. Our investors in Woodford Racing love the action and especially in races like the Pilgrim. That's why we do it.”
A victory could provide City of Light, who is amongst the most sought after first crop sires this year, with his first graded stakes winner as a stallion.
“We like the size and scope,” Haggin said regarding City of Light progeny. “With this colt, we feel like he should only improve as he continues to grow into his frame. We're excited that he has two races under his belt and excited for his future. He's a really cool colt. He seems to have bounced out of both of those races really well. He seems pretty laid back around the barn, like a lot of Shug's horses, but once you put the tack on him, he turns into a real athlete.”
Battle of Normandy is out of the dual stakes-winning Kitten's Joy mare Adorable Miss and is a direct descendant of breed-shaping broodmare La Troienne. He was bought for $500,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.
Carmouche has retained the mount aboard Battle of Normandy, who will break from post 5.
Trainer Chad Brown will saddle I'm Very Busy, who registered a 73 Beyer Speed Figure with a victorious debut on August 13 at Saratoga. Owned by Team Hanley, Richard Schermerhorn and Paul Braverman, the Pennsylvania-bred son of first crop sire Cloud Computing received a ground saving trip under returning rider Flavien Prat and drew clear to a 3 3/4-length win.
“He looks good, that horse,” said Brown, a three-time Pilgrim winner. “His debut was impressive; we worked him once on the turf and he did super. I like what I've seen.”
I'm Very Busy will leave from post 10.
Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will debut Spendthrift Farm's Major Dude on turf after two prior stakes engagements over the main track. The bay colt graduated at first asking in June over the Monmouth Park main track before finishing sixth in the Grade 3 Sanford on July 16 at Saratoga. He enters off a distant third in the Sapling at Monmouth, where he stretched out to a two-turn mile for the first time.
Pletcher has worked Major Dude over the turf twice heading into his grass debut, and commented that he appears to have moved up based off his turf breezes.
“It seems like some of the Bolt d'Oros have taken a step forward on the grass,” said Pletcher. “He's formed decently on the dirt, but when you see him on the grass, his couple of works have indicated that he could make a move forward.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Major Dude from post 3.
Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Peter Searles and Patty Searles' Ramblin' Wreck is one of four New York-breds attempting to best open company. The Danny Gargan-trained son of Redesdale – who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for $2,500 – graduated at second asking in his turf debut on September 16 at Aqueduct, which he won by three lengths at 10-1 odds.
Bred by Ron Bowden, Ramblin' Wreck is out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Dakota Kid – making him a half-brother to open company stakes and multiple New York-bred stakes winner Dakota Gold.
Manny Franco will ride from post 7.
Lawrence Goichman's New York homebred Lachaise enters off a 1 1/4-length debut victory on August 4 at Saratoga for trainer Jorge Abreu. The son of 2016 Pilgrim winner Oscar Performance is out of Elusive Rumour, who has also produced stakes winners Myhartblongstodady, Runaway Rumour and Scuttlebuzz.
“He came out of his maiden race really well,” Abreu said. “I had him in the With Anticipation and unfortunately, he got sick and we had to scratch. But now he's good.”
Although victorious, Lachaise did appear a bit green in the stretch run of his maiden win when drifting in slightly around the sixteenth-pole.
“I think that's just baby stuff in Saratoga with the screen and the crowd. I'm not looking for an excuse though because he won,” Abreu said.
Lachaise will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 9.
Completing the field are Fly Right [post 1, Javier Castellano], Noble Huntsman [post 2, Dylan Davis], Bramble Blaze [post 4, Madeline Rowland], Dataman [post 6, Joel Rosario], Vacation Dance [post 8, Luis Saez], Torigo [post 11, Junior Alvarado] and Movisitor [post 12, Trevor McCarthy].
The Pilgrim is carded as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race program. First post is 1 p.m. Eastern.
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