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Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
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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I wouldn't say nothing but sprinters in Apollo's bottom side, though it certainly leans that way. Then again, most of those are sired by speed/sprint sires.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
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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Do you remember Apollo's debut? He had blistering works, including, if I recall correctly from 20 years ago, a 6f work around 110 flat, in the early to mid summer of his 2yo year. In his debut, he looks like he's going to win by 10, then pulls a Sunday Silence in the stretch, holds on to win in like 111 and change, and is laid up. After he came back, I think it was in the San Miguel several months later, a race he crushed them in, Jones was interviewed about Apollo. He said the reason he ran so erratically in the stretch is because even though he already had bucked shins, he really wanted to get a race into him.
I already thought he was a butcher, but wow man. It was only a matter of time before he unraveled Apollo.
Looking back on horses that debuted with Jones, you really will have a hard time finding promising horses that lasted. Turkoman? I think Reigning Countess maybe? For every Turkoman, there were many more Timebanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
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.
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Thanks. As I said above, horses that he inherited typically fared much better than ones he started out with.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RolloTomasi
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.
Apollo made 23 lifetime starts. Its not like he disappeared after he got exposed at Turfway.
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He never was the same after the Turfway race.
Apollo was FAST and should have had a much better career.