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Originally Posted by Indian Charlie
Apollo's breeding wasn't exactly that of a crack sprinter. By a son of Lyhpard that was out of a Sir Ivor mare, if I recall correctly.
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Falstaff had about 5 foals total before Apollo came along. Apollo's bottom side is nothing but sprinters and Falstaff's own dam, Ivorina, produced sprinter Ivory Mint, who in turn produced sprinter Malibu Mint.
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That aside, I'm more than confident Jones wrecked, early on, what was going to be a magnificent horse.
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How exactly? The colt broke its maiden in July, bucked shins, came back and won two 6f sprints by open lengths, then barely held on in a 7f Cal-bred stakes before his first defeat in the San Rafael at 8f. Then he got beat open lengths at 9f in the Jim Beam. Sounds like a sensible campaign heading towards the Derby. However, predictably (by Gary Jones no less), distance limitations set in.
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And if you think his performance going two turns against Dinard and Best Pal wasn't awesome, I don't know what to say to you.
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He got away with a :23+ opening quarter that day and was able to hold off a comebacking Best Pal but not a streaking Dinard. Best Pal was a bit pea-hearted all spring anyways, ironically coming to hand in the summer and fall after being transfered to...you guess it...Gary Jones.
Not sure why this runner-up effort is the stuff of legend. It was a big try from an overachieving Cal-bred of modest origin. Nothing more than that. Came back down to the level hinted at by the Cal Breeder's Stakes soon afterwards.
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Jones, his strength, was with older imports that didn't have to survive his handling as a 2yo or early 3yo.
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Apollo made 23 lifetime starts. Its not like he disappeared after he got exposed at Turfway.