Sea Hero was a horrendous guess. He romped in the Champagne in '92.

DrugS should be flogged for that answer.

Flanders winning and Lure getting beat happened in 1994 - the same year when Sea Hero couldn't beat anyone.

Correct... which is why I said it was a good guess. Go for Gin wasn't nearly in as bad of form.

Val's Prince.

Nope

I misread the question. I thought it was referring to only the Champagne Stakes and the Frizette.

If they ran Sea Hero in consistent races perhaps he would have been better at 4. His first start was a sprint (7f), then a main track route,. then a middle distance turf race, then a marathon turf race, etc. It seems like they were experimenting the whole season. He ran fairly well against fellow Grade 1 winner Fourstars Allstars in a 8.5f allowance (IIRC in 1:39+), so I'm not sure why they didn't pursue a miler type campaign. I think his next start off that race was the Sword Dancer at 12f.

What about Better Talk Now? Cetewayo?

Correct on Cetewayo.

His Grade 1 wins came 4 years apart. Val's Prince was actually 2nd to him in the first one.

Grade 1 winner. Name him.

Joyeux Danseur

Correct

I know this one but I'll let others answer. He was really good for about a 6 month stretch.

One of the better 2yo turfers. Name him.

Cryptic Rascal

Correct.

I was a big fan of the NJ Bred filly who smoked him in the Jersey Derby .. she went downhill after that though. The great Who Did it And Run.

Some one-off turf horses:

1) This champion juvenile and favorite for at least 2 of the 3 classics the following year, won his only turf start (The Tell) as a prep for the Travers. I think he was DQ'd from the win actually.

2) This lightly raced colt, trained by a HOF jockey, was 5th in the Arkansas Derby, his stakes debut. He was also 5th in the Kentucky Derby, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and BC Classic. Off his Derby effort, he one the restricted Relaunch at Del Mar in his only turf start. He later won the Malibu and Strub, but was unplaced in the San Fernando.

3) This colt was the "best maiden in the country" in '95, having placed in the Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity flanking an unplaced try Unbridled's Song's BC Juvenile. After breaking his maiden he won the San Felipe but missed the Triple Crown. He came back on the turf, winning the Volante (now the Oak Tree Derby), but I don't think ever ran again.

4) This colt ran 3rd in his only grass start, the minor Pirate Cove Stakes at Santa Anita, prior to his coming out party in the San Felipe in the mud, where he dusted Brocco and Valiant Nature.

2 is Diazo.

I'm pretty sure 4 is Soul of The Matter - don't know the other two.

Yep. Stuka deputized by winning the Big Cap for Allen Paulson (on a DQ) after Diazo broke down training for the race.

Odyle..

Chiefs Crown ?

Yes on Odyle and Chief's Crown.

The other answer can be found on DRF.com in the Dan Ilman blog. I just noticed he put up the PP's for the '94 BC Classic, which is a decent hint.

I was actually just about to put a question about the much DT-maligned Best Pal and his two good grass efforts up, but he was in that BC Classic as well.

Amoss threw me off, since he also trained Val's Prince early in his career for a few starts.

Here's a horse who I would have bet my life would become a Grade 1 winner on turf after his maiden win ... he never did ... but his similarly named brother (Who I was less a fan of) who came along the following year would become a Grade 1 winner on turf. Name both.

Patrol and Stroll

Correct.

3yos who resurrected their careers switching to turf:

1) This Norfolk winner ran 5th in all 3 Classics (the only horse to do so) in '89, before going on a massive tear winning his first 4 turf starts including a world record at 12f. His first defeat on turf came in the Japan Cup that year.

2) This colt ran down the answer to #1 in the 12f San Luis Rey, his 3rd career turf start. His previous start, he dusted BC Mile winner Steinlen in the Arcadia at a flat mile. He beat Sunday Silence on the square at Hollywood Park, but could barely get within 20 lengths of Easy Goer at Belmont.

3) This blue-blooded Derby also-ran came back in the Oak Tree Mile, winning against elders, prior to a huge late rush to win the BC Mile. Of course, it was financially unreasonable to run him as a 4yo and instead he rewarded his fans by becoming an indifferent sire. Way to go.

4) This His Majesty colt chased Summer Squall and Mr. Frisky on the Derby trail before coming to life on the turf at Hollywood and Del Mar. Unbeaten in his first several turf starts (I think 8 or so), he capped the streak with a close win in the Arlington Million.

5) This colt was took the Remsen and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, but lost bigger tests like the Champagne and Kentucky Derby. He woke up on turf in the National Racing Hall Of Fame, Kent, and Jamaica before flaming out in the BC Mile and Hollywood Derby.

1. Hawkster

2. Prized

I think 4 is Tight Spot. No idea on 3 and 5.

3. War Chant

Is 5 Nobizlikeshowbiz?

Yep. 3 has to be War Chant.

It's like a pitcher throwing some off speed stuff when you mix in recent horses you aren't expecting. Two of the hardest ones have turned out to have been Lawyer Ron and Singletary .. and much older and more obscure horses get identified a lot quicker.

Last one.



Was beaten to the wire in all four hurdle races .. switched to the turf and won back to back allowance race in huge fashion. Had to endure a 2 year layoff after his big alw win .. and rose from the claiming ranks to become a multiple Grade 1 winner. Name him.

flag down?

Nope.

John's Call.

Can you post Flag Down's full career if you get a chance. Thanks

Yep. Both Grade 1 wins came at age 9 ... and I believe he was 2nd to Da Hoss in a small stake at CNL right before Da Hoss won his 2nd BC Mile.