Does anyone remember the horse who ran the opening quarter of the Kentucky Derby faster than Secretariat? The horse who pushed the fastest 3/4 record in history? He didn't win the race...but he pushed the fastest time stopping the clock since Secretariat.
SongAndAPrayer is a beautiful horse by Unbridled's Song out of Alizea by Premiership. He now stands at Walmac Farm for a fee of $22,500 and was Kentucky's leading sire of 2 year olds in 2008. Stallion farms like to focus on winners and success and although he didn't win the Derby he certainly had a factor in it with a large, talented field of horses that he made run every step of the way. He broke from the inside and pressed Balto Star to a speed duel making good horses such as Point Given, AP Valentine, Millenium Wind. 44 4/5 was the opening quarter and into the turn Point Given pressed and Congaree started closing and took the lead. The call was "and Congaree has come away with the lead...here comes his stablemate Point Given..they're at the 3/4 in 109.1 record time here at the Derby..." was the call. Fans who remembered Secretariat's awe inspiring win had mixed feelings watching an amazing field of talented horses and the big horse's record close to being beaten.
As they straightened for home Monarchos under a heavy drive passed a tired Congaree who did his level best. "Here comes Monarchos who sweeps to the lead...he's pulling away by two! He's pulling away by THREE! Jorge Chavez and Monarchos have won the Kentucky Derby!! and the final time was 1 minute 59 and 4/5 seconds...he was as fast as Secretariat!"
Monarchos won by 4 3/4 lengths over Invisible Ink who was 5 in front of Congaree. Point Given was 5th, no shame considering the monster of a race. Songandaprayer finished 13th, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Watching that race Songandaprayer dictated much - records aren't set without pressure and he set the pressure hard.
For those who doubt the "toughness" of modern Thoroughbreds I challenge you to look down this field. There are many who think the fire and drive of a Thoroughbred is on the track but the fire comes from within. Invisible Ink was a horse that refused to give up. Not only in trying until the very end in the Kentucky Derby but this is a horse that "should have" died. A superficial cut became a problem and antibiotics were given. The colt began to go downhill. He lost appetite and condition. Colitis set in and his body began breaking down. His skin was stripped and he hurt so badly he couldn't drink. He dropped to 500 pounds and the persistance of veterinary care combined with his heart kept him going. The insurance company gave up on him and with plasma costs of $1,000 per day they gave permission to euthanize him. Hour by hour he hung in there, small amounts of dissolvable pellets the only nourishment they could get down him. Someone suggested buttermilk left in the sun...and he was tube fed this. The bacteria responded and the colt began gaining weight. Months later he outran later-named Horse of the Year Point Given in the second fastest Kentucky Derby in history. For all of those who say horse racing is just about money...money would have put this colt down. People gave him a chance. People sat with him and refused to give up. He finished the Belmont Stakes wiith chips in the ankles and although he returned to the races it wasn't at the same level and he was retired. Today the son of Thunder Gulch and Conquistress (by Conquistador Cielo) stands at Rising Hill Farm in Ocala Florida for a $3500 fee.
And Monarchos? He has sired 20 stakes horses. Monarchos did return to racing at four but the son of Maria's Mon injured a tendon and was retired to Claiborne. Today he stands at Nuckols Farm in Midway Kentucky for a $6,000 fee.
Keywords: Congaree, Express Tour, horse racing, Invisible Ink, Kentucky Derby 2001, Millenium Wind, Monarchos, Point Given, Songandaprayer, Thoroughbreds
Comments
"Songandapayer is blistering down the backstretch!" "The first half mile was the fastest in Derby history!!!!" "Monster of a race" is right! That was one of the most exciting calls and exciting races I've ever watched, and Songandaprayer's record first half is rightly featured when his services as a sire are advertised. I was at the Wood won by Congeree but I could see that Espinoza was all over Congeree crossing the wire, while Monarchos, who had trouble getting his early footing, had finally gotten tracked and was comfortably gaining ground under wraps. That Derby played exactly as I thought it would in terms of Congeree and Monarchos in the stretch. Congeree was ALL class but was more of a miler, though his class allowed him to stretch out.
Glad to read Songandaprayer has an impressive stud fee. He deserves it. He got a lot of publicity when Bobby Hurley & Co. purchased him as a two-year old, and he set up probably the most thriling Kentucky Derby of the past decade.