Twenty-five years after the nearly white and cleverly named Alphabet Soup made headlines by narrowly defeating the legendary Cigar in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Woodbine, his name and pedigree (Cozzene—Illiterate, by Arts and Letters) live on through his 18 crops of offspring that often sport equally creative monikers such as Egg Drop, Alpha Bettor, No Soup for You, Lentil, Soups On, Souper Douper and Vocabulary. The stallion himself also lives on, thanks to a lifetime of extraordinary care and perhaps because of his bromance with a different kind of equid.
Alphabet Soup turned 30 in March at Old Friends Equine Retirement, a hybrid living history museum and horsey petting zoo, in Georgetown, Ky. He has resided there since 2015 after being pensioned from his longtime stallion duties at Adena Springs about 30 miles northeast in Paris. Former stud barn mate Touch Gold — winner of the 1997 Belmont Stakes — is also at Old Friends. Awesome Again, another Adena Springs stalwart who won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Classic before evolving into a breed-shaping sire, passed away at Old Friends at age 26 in December.
“When Adena Springs called and said they were going to let us take care of some of their horses — in particular Alphabet Soup — I was astonished,” said Michael Blowen, who founded Old Friends in 2003. “We were thrilled that they think so highly of us.”
The far-flung Adena Springs breeding and racing operation started by Frank Stronach, is revered for producing quality runners exemplified by seven Eclipse Awards as outstanding breeder. Before Thoroughbred aftercare moved to the forefront, Adena Springs established their own rehoming program for their former racers. Stronach fully funds the Adena Springs-connected horses that reside at Old Friends.
Soup at home
Alphabet Soup's glamorous looks were once summarized by Blowen as “the most gorgeous horse who ever stepped foot on the farm.” Paired with his exceptionally gentle nature, Alphabet Soup is reminiscent of a hornless unicorn. He quickly settled in to life as host to admiring fans.
“We hear the most amazing stories,” Blowen said. “Handicappers tell stories about cashing bets on him. Some people have pictures of his babies in their wallets. His former jockey [Hall of Famer] Chris McCarron visits all the time.”
Alphabet Soup met the farm's first resident donkey Gorgeous George when Blowen introduced the little long-ear to potential paddock mates. Gorgeous George showed particular interest in the famous racer and the two soon became inseparable. They share a water bucket and treats and when Alphabet Soup is led to and from the barn, Gorgeous George follows untethered.
“It is like watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace only better,” Blowen said. “George is like the Secret Service. If you try doing something to Alphabet Soup that George takes exception to, he lets you know it. He is a protector.”
Read more about Gorgeous George in this 2018 edition of Barn Buddies.
Soup and George share some grass
Bred in Pennsylvania by Southeast Associates, Alphabet Soup was listed as not sold on a final bid of $28,000 at the 1992 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The following May, he again did not meet his reserve at $29,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Maryland 2-year-olds in training auction. On April 2, 1994, he debuted with a third-place effort at Santa Anita for Ridder Thoroughbred Stable and trainer David Hofmans. A winner in his third start five weeks later at Hollywood Park, Alphabet Soup methodically climbed the class ladder prior to becoming a graded stakes winner late in his four-year-old season.
He peaked as a 5-year-old in a season highlighted by three graded stakes scores in Southern California prior to the Classic.
He returned in early 1997 at age six with a runner-up performance in the San Antonio Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita with Adena Springs owner Frank Stronach as a new partner with Ridder Thoroughbreds in what would be his 24th and final start. He was officially retired a few months later and began his stud career in 1998 for Adena Springs. His record stands at 10-3-6 and $2,990,270. He won six graded events including his lone Grade 1 score in the Classic.
Decades removed from those glory days, Alphabet Soup remains a crowd pleaser. Blowen is perhaps his biggest fan and marvels daily at the stallion's exuberance for life in general and his intelligence in particular.
“He taught me that he would rather have his back scratched than eat carrots,” he said. “He gets right up to the fence and then moves to place he wants me to scratch.”
For more information about donations and tours, visit www.oldfriendsequine.org
Liane Crossley is a Lexington-based freelance writer who has spent her entire career in Thoroughbred racing-related jobs in barns, press boxes and offices. She has worked for stables from Saratoga to Ak-Sar-Ben and from Canterbury Park to Oaklawn Park and about another dozen tracks in the eastern two thirds of America. A longtime contributor to Thoroughbred Times, her articles have appeared in Keeneland Magazine, Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, Thoroughbred Daily News, Breeders' Cup website, Horse Illustrated, European Bloodstock News, KyForward, Horse Illustrated, Young Rider and other publications. She is a seasonal member of Keeneland's media department.
The post Lost And Found Presented By LuibriSYN HA: Alphabet Soup Lives On Under Careful Watch Of Donkey Protector appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
