From the beginning my thoughts on this blog were not just the well known horses and events that there was already massive coverage of but the sometimes unseen. Everyone knows Curlin. The names of FunnyCide and DaHoss ring familiar even after retirement. So Good Night Shirt is another who deserves a moment in the sun.
In America the dominant coverage is those horses who run the "classic distances" in the big races. So as a steeplechase star Good Night Shirt is not a fashionable star. Fashionable or no the long strided chestnut gelding is a classic example of the imperfect horse being perfect at another career.
He wasn't suited for the sales as a weanling or yearling. He didn't start as a 2 year old and never had a chance at the Triple Crown. He was sold as an unraced 3 year old. He did win two races before being sold again. He won a Grade III, placed in a Grade II, has strung together an impressive win record including a perfect 5 for 5 in 2008 and is a two consecutive time winner of the Eclipse award for top steeplechaser. Running at distances of 2-3 miles he set a single season earnings of $485,520 which led all Maryland reds (flat or jumps) in 2008 earnings. He is the third all time money winner in his division with $934,493 in wins as an 8 year old gelding now with eyes on being the first to win three consecutive runnings of the Iroquois chase on May 9.
A son of Concern out of Hot Story by Two Punch, Good Night Shirt is a walking example of Thoroughbred history. Hot story is also the dam of a three times stakes placed three year old by Lion Hearted. He has the old lines of Broad Brush (by Ack Ack) on top, with Two Punch being sired by Mr. Prospector and out of a Grey Dawn II mare. Hot Story was out of Media Girl by T.V. Commericial and a daughter of Kennedy Road.
As a gelding, Good Night Shirt of course cannot breed. The names in his pedigree are noteworthy not only because of the Thoroughbred history but indicating that this history is threatened by more fashionable - and profitable - breeding. Through Ack Ack is a great-grandson of champion Alsab. Alsab traces (as Good Night Shirt carries the line today) to Domino.
Domino was an outstanding sprinter, winning 19 of 25 starts. With only 19 named foals and only four of those colts that had not been gelded, it seemed the Domino line would end right there. Indeed an outstanding sprinter was a gelding, Iron Mask, and a twice champion filly Maskette. Then came the heir to the throne, 1901 Belmont Stakes winner Commando. Commando unfortunately carried on another family tradition - with 27 foals he died far before his time. Three of his sons became sires including the inbred Ultimus, 1907 Belmont Stakes winner Peter Pan who made a sire thanks to horses like Equipoise, Spy Song and Bimelech and Colin.
Colin continued the line in a twist of fate that he did have a long stud career but was barely fertile, siring just 83 foals. His sons were less than stellar on the track but one, Neddie, sired Good Goods. The son of Good Goods that carried the torch - Alsab.
The names behind many of the horses of today have been too often forgotten. Although Good Night Shirt has no breeding career, it validates those old horses had value.
Keywords: Eclipse Award, Good Night Shirt, steeplechasing, Thoroughbreds
