Overachievers in Racing History

[Curlin]

We often get very attached to these guys/gals, the former claimers who became stakes winners. And those who were bought for a song who paid for themselves many times over. These are horses who people root for, they're usually not the bluebloods but the humbly bred ones who far outperform their breeding.

Who are your favorites? I can think of a few off the top of my head ...

Seattle Slew, bought for $17,500 - and we know what he did.
Blind Luck, first start was MC 40K
Lava Man, claimed for 30K, went on to win over $5M
Seabiscuit
John Henry

[dustino140]

Ghostzapper

[Curlin]

Zenyatta, bought for 60K, made over $6M.

[WaquoitNBroadBrush]

Carry Back
King's Swan (loved this tough-as-nails sprinter in NY back in the '80s)
Real Quiet
Funny Cide

[Thinair]

King's Swan (loved this tough-as-nails sprinter in NY back in the '80s)

Ya gotta love the Swan!

[daisy]

Stymie. And there's another from that era whose name I can't recall and it's gonna drive me nuts.

[Miss Woodford]

Roamer-by a teaser stallion who jumped the fence and got into the paddock of a blind old claiming mare who had produced nothing worthwhile up until that point.
Jay Trump-was running at the bottom of the barrel at Charles Town before being sent to a steeplechase trainer

Also Demonstrative:
http://www.racingpost.com/horses/hor...orse_id=736116
http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbH...712&registry=T

[second_glance]

Smarty Jones, of course.

[Native Diver]

Two of my favorites come to mind: Skip Away and General Quarters

General Quarters was claimed by Tom McCarthy for 20k, now a winner of over 1.1 mil.
Skip Away sold as a 2 yr old for 30k (I read somewhere that it was actually 22.5K and I don't know which is correct), but one thing is for sure; this guy won over 9 million dollars in a career that had to have been the thrill of a lifetime for owners/trainer Sonny and Carolyn Hine. It goes that she asked her husband to buy a gray horse because a light horse was easier to see on the track. Who knew?

[pupatariat]

Spectacular Bid did OK for a modestly priced colt.

[WaquoitNBroadBrush]

How could I have forgotten Waquoit??? A very inexpensive colt based at Suffolk Downs who won a memorable Mass. Handicap, a Michigan Mile and two Brooklyn Handicaps and finished third in a Breeders' Club Classic.

[Flanders]

Skip Away sold as a 2 yr old for 30k (I read somewhere that it was actually 22.5K and I don't know which is correct), but one thing is for sure; this guy won over 9 million dollars in a career that had to have been the thrill of a lifetime for owners/trainer Sonny and Carolyn Hine. It goes that she asked her husband to buy a gray horse because a light horse was easier to see on the track. Who knew?

He was sold as a 2yo to the Hines' but he had a chip and the seller gave them a price break to keep him.

Holy Bull and Silver Charm.

[Gemtwyst]

Sunday Silence -- a poorly-conformed, ill-tempered beast that no one wanted despite several attempts to sell him.

And even after winning the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Breeder's Cup Classic, he was still a poorly-conformed, ill tempered beast that no one wanted. Except for Japanese breeders. Good for them!

[PJMIII]

Smarty Jones, of course.

Ditto from me. The little horse from the wrong side of the tracks.

[PanZareta]

Spend a Buck. Foaled near Owensboro, Kentucky, not exactly the heart of bluegrass country. Cost only $12,500 as a yearling. His Derby was a thing of beauty and will always be one of my favorites.

[Igloo]

Carry Back

Carry Back, great little horse. Out of Joppy a $300 mare, by Saggy with a $400 stud fee. My all time favourite.

[Laurierace]

Xtra Heat.

[sweet_tea]

Kodiak Kowboy.

He wasn't a claimer, but I have seen several news articles refer to him as an Over Achiever.

[Pronzini]

Ditto from me. The little horse from the wrong side of the tracks.

Personally I think that part of the story has been overblown. Look at that pedigree again and tell me that's the "wrong side of the tracks" or that Chapman, who owned multiple homes, including the 100 acre farm that Smarty was born on was the common man.

Lava Man is probably a better example but John Henry is overachiever personified. In 1975, you could have bought John, his mother and his father for $5000 at Keeneland. Even if you account for inflation, that's unprecedented.

[second_glance]

P
Lava Man is probably a better example but John Henry is overachiever personified. In 1975, you could have bought John, his mother and his father for $5000 at Keeneland. Even if you account for inflation, that's unprecedented.

I agree with this!