Overachievers in Racing History

[Rick1323]

For me it would be Slew and Skip away

[the Ol'Line Rebel]

Jay Trump-was running at the bottom of the barrel at Charles Town before being sent to a steeplechase trainer

Sorta a`la Billy Barton? Better, I know, but BB is quite a story.

[the Ol'Line Rebel]

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.

How about Seabiscuit being sold (then as now) as "poorly bred" and all that jazz? He is 1 of the most overblown "underdogs" in history - the only reason he was an underdog was for the right reason - he was lousy on the track. Otherwise, he had good breeding (granddaddies Man O'War AND Whisk Broom II, both great racers AND sires), by a historically renowned breeder Wheatly Stud, and had 1 of the most legendary trainers ever working him. Except for his poor record, Seabiscuit was no underdog, "common man's" horse.

[Vandalay]

Xtra Heat.

Most definitely...she sold for only $5K as a 2YO in training

[Blue Jeans]

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.

Good post. LM and JH would be my picks.

JH's sire, Ole Bob Bowers was bought for $5000 (1967) and sold for $900 (1975) ... his meanness sold him cheap, but JH made him famous.

Meant to add ... Thankfully, OBB wasn't gelded. Makes you wonder how many overachievers there could've been from 'others not so fortunate as OBB', huh? [laughing]

[GinTalking]

Xtra Heat.

Seconded. A $5,000 purchase ... champion.

And Safely Kept ... champion and Hall of Famer.

John's Call

[halo]

Jameela, Weber City Miss, Twixt, Daves Friend, Little Bold John, (love those tough Maryland horses!!!!) and Real Quiet.

[Play The King]

Northern Dancer!!! He didn't even meet his 25,000 reserve at the Windfields yearling sale!
Don't think I need to say what he went on to do lol!

A personal one for me is Charismatic who months prior to the winning the Derby, was in claiming races. If not for the broken leg in the Belmont, I truly believe that we would have seen a TC win in '99. And no one can tell me different ;-)

Jenn

[Diver52]

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

Alsab?

[Miss Woodford]

Alsab?

Alsab was a $700 yearling.

Dark Mirage was a tiny $6000 yearling. She ended up only 15.1hh and 710 lbs.

[Miss Woodford]

Sorta a`la Billy Barton? Better, I know, but BB is quite a story.

Not quite. Billy Barton was a multiple stakes winner on the flat, albeit in Cuba.

[PJMIII]

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.

I wasn't talking about his pedigree. I was talking about the track that he started his career at , Philadelphia Park.

[driver8]

Magic Weisner. The gelding was bought for $1 and went on to win $888k+ and multiple stakes including a 2nd place finish in the 1999 Preakness.

[Laurierace]

Magic Weisner. The gelding was bought for $1 and went on to win $888k+ and multiple stakes including a 2nd place finish in the 1999 Preakness.

Not exactly. His dam was bought for $1. He was a homebred so had no purchase price. Definitely a modest beginning however.

[Miss Woodford]

I wasn't talking about his pedigree. I was talking about the track that he started his career at , Philadelphia Park.

...That's not a small-time track by any means.

[Slewbopper]

John Henry
Seabiscuit

[second_glance]

...That's not a small-time track by any means.

It was when Smarty was running.

[GinTalking]

It was when Smarty was running.

Yes, it was.

[arkle]

This thread has gone one for two pages and still no mention of Takeover Target.
Odd that.

[Vandalay]

[QUOTE=driver8;225079]Magic Weisner. The gelding was bought for $1 and went on to win $888k+ and multiple stakes including a 2nd place finish in the 1999 Preakness.[/QUO

On a sad note, I heard that Magic Weisner's owner-trainer Nancy Alberts suffered a stroke recently,..I hope she's doing better