Orb (horse)

Last updated
Orb
Orb (horse).jpg
Orb at Pimlico in May 2013
Sire Malibu Moon
Grandsire A.P. Indy
DamLady Liberty
Damsire Unbridled
Sex Stallion
FoaledFebruary 24, 2010
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
BreederStuart S Janney III & Phipps Stable
OwnerStuart S Janney III & Phipps Stable
Trainer Claude McGaughey III
Record12:5-0-3
Earnings$2,605,850
Major wins
Fountain of Youth Stakes (2013)
Florida Derby (2013)
Triple Crown Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (2013)

Orb (foaled February 24, 2010 in Kentucky) [1] is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Contents

Background

Orb is a bay colt with a small white star bred and owned by Stuart S. Janney III and Phipps Stable. He was sired by Malibu Moon, whose other progeny include the Grade I winners Declan's Moon, Devil May Care, Life At Ten (Beldame Stakes) and Malibu Prayer (Ruffian Handicap). [2] His dam, Lady Liberty, was sired by the 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled. Lady Liberty won four races in 12 starts and was retired from racing in 2005. Orb is her only stakes winner out of five live foals. [3] On his dam's side, Orb is descended from Laughter, a sister of the outstanding racemare Ruffian. [4]

Orb was trained by the veteran Claude R. "Shug" McGaughey, III, who had handled the previous Phipps champions Easy Goer and Personal Ensign. [5]

Racing career

2012: Two-year-old season

It took Orb four tries to break his maiden. In his first career start, Orb finished third in a maiden special weight race run at Saratoga. [6] and finished fourth in another maiden special weight race at Belmont Park in September. [7] He was fourth in another maiden special weight race at Aqueduct Racetrack. He finally broke his maiden a few weeks later on November 24 at Aqueduct Racetrack. [8]

2013: Three-year-old season

Orb began his three-year-old season by winning an allowance race at Gulfstream Park over nine furlongs on January 26. Four weeks later, on February 23, Orb was moved up in class to contest the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park. Ridden by John R. Velazquez, he won the race by half a length, defeating the odds-on favorite Violence. [9] On March 30, Orb started as the 29/10 second favorite for the Grade I Florida Derby. He was settled in fifth place before moving up on the outside to take the lead inside the final furlong and won by 2 3/4 lengths from Itsmyluckyday. [10]

On May 4, 2013, Orb, ridden by Joel Rosario, started as the favorite for the 139th Kentucky Derby. Rosario positioned the colt toward the rear of the 19-horse field in the early stages as the outsider Palace Malice set a fast pace. From half distance, Orb began to make progress on the outside and turned into the straight just behind the leaders. Normandy Invasion took the lead from Palace Malice, but Orb continued to make ground in the center of the sloppy track. The favorite took the lead 1/16 of a mile from home and pulled away to win by 2 1/2 lengths from Golden Soul in a final time of 2:02:89. McGaughey, who had just won the race for the first time, said, "I've always dreamed of this day and it finally came... I'm thrilled for the people who put in so much time on this horse, and of course I'm thrilled for me." [11]

Orb started as the 3/5 favorite for the Preakness Stakes two weeks later after looking impressive in training. [12] In the race, however, he was never able to mount a challenge and finished fourth behind the upset winner Oxbow. At the Belmont Stakes on June 8, Orb started as the 11/5 favorite against 13 opponents. Rosario held the colt up at the rear of the field and made steady progress in the last half mile. He was never able to reach the lead and finished third behind Palace Malice and Oxbow.

After a break of well over two months spent at the Fair Hill Training Center, Orb returned for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on August 24 when his opponents included Palace Malice and the Haskell Invitational Stakes winner Verrazano. Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Orb took the lead a 1/4 mile from the finish but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished third behind Will Take Charge and Moreno. McGaughey said, "He ran a good race. You can't cry over spilled milk. We got him back on the right track, and now we'll point for something else." [13]

Orb returned on September 28 in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in which he was matched against older horses. He finished last of the eight runners behind Ron the Greek. [14] On November 5, 2013, he was officially retired from racing and returned to Claiborne Farm, where he had been foaled, to stand at stud as a breeding stallion for the 2014 season. [15]

Stud career

Orb stood at stud at Claiborne Farm, in Paris, Ky. with a 2020 stud fee of $10,000. [16] Orb has also been syndicated, and all of the members have breeding rights relating to the number of shares they hold. He was bred to approximately 105 mares in 2014.[ citation needed ]

He resided in the same paddock in which Triple Crown winner Secretariat once resided. [17]

On June 11, 2017, Orb was represented by his first winner as a sire when his son Earth won a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park at first asking. In the five-furlong turf race, Earth ran down a filly named Pocket Book to win by a neck. [18]

In April 2021, Orb was purchased by a group of Uruguayan breeders to stand at stud Haras Cuatro Piedras, a farm owned by Uruguayan Breeders Association president Pablo Salomone. [19]

Since winning the Kentucky Derby in 2013, Orb has been referenced in several episodes of the Maximum Fun podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me. Orb, as part of a running gag, is described as a literal orb, an alien construction masquerading as a horse in order to breed with "Earth horse-women". [20]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Orb (USA), bay stallion, 2010 [21]
Sire
Malibu Moon (USA)
1997		 A.P. Indy
1989		 Seattle Slew Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Weekend Surprise Secretariat
Lassie Dear
Macoumba
1992		 Mr Prospector* Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Maximova Green Dancer
Baracala
Dam
Lady Liberty (USA)
1999		 Unbridled
1987		 Fappiano Mr Prospector*
Killaloe
Gana FacilLe Fabuleux
Charedi
Mesabi Maiden
1993		 Cox's Ridge Best Turn
Our Martha
Steel Maiden Damascus
Laughter (Family: 8-c) [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Prospector</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Mr. Prospector was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, including the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Whirlaway Handicap at Garden State Park.

Flower Alley is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Winner of the Travers Stakes during his racing career, he is best known as the sire of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another.

Lure was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was best known for winning back to back Breeders' Cup Miles in 1992 and 1993. He began his career racing on dirt, and won the Gotham Stakes while on the Triple Crown trail. After losing his next two races though, his trainer decided to try him on the turf. After the switch, Lure won nine stakes races, three of them Grade I, and retired with earnings of over $2.5 million. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go for Gin</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Go for Gin was an American thoroughbred racehorse best known as the winner of the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was sired by Cormorant out of the dam Never Knock. He was ridden in the Derby by Chris McCarron, who had previously won the race on Alysheba.

Seeking The Gold was an American thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.

Unbridled's Song was an American thoroughbred racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. He was the favorite for the 1996 Kentucky Derby but suffered a cracked hoof in the weeks before the race and finished fifth. He finished his racing career with five wins from twelve starts and earnings of $1.3 million. He subsequently became a highly successful sire, with major winners including Breeders' Cup champions Arrogate, Forever Unbridled, Midshipman and Liam's Map. He also sired the filly Eight Belles who came second in the Kentucky Derby. He was posthumously the leading sire in North America of 2017.

Pulpit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes and came fourth in the 1997 Kentucky Derby. Injured after that race, he retired to stud at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Kentucky where he became a successful sire. His descendants include leading sire in North America Tapit and multiple American Classic winners such as Tonalist and California Chrome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blame (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Blame is a retired American champion Thoroughbred racehorse, a winner of nine races in 13 starts including the prestigious Breeders' Cup Classic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shackleford (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Shackleford is a chestnut Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2011 Preakness Stakes. He also finished second in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and won the Metropolitan Handicap and Clark Handicap in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruler on Ice</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ruler on Ice is a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 2011 Belmont Stakes. He was bred and foaled in Kentucky by Brandywine Farm in partnership with Liberation Farm on. He is a chestnut gelding sired by Hill 'n' Dale Farms' Roman Ruler out of the Saratoga Six-bred mare, Champagne Glow. The colt was consigned as lot 988 at the 2009 Keeneland September yearling auction, where he was purchased by George and Lori Hall for $100,000. Ruler on Ice only won one minor race after winning the Belmont and was retired from racing in July 2014. He lives in Versailles, Kentucky at the farm of his owners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxbow (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Oxbow, an American Thoroughbred racehorse, is best known for winning the second jewel in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, the 2013 Preakness Stakes. A bay colt, sired by a winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic and out of a full sister to another Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Oxbow was sold as a yearling at Keeneland for $250,000 and is owned by Brad Kelley of Calumet Farm. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden in his Triple Crown races by Gary Stevens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itsmyluckyday</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Itsmyluckyday is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Itsmyluckyday is a multiple graded stakes winner who finished second in the 2013 Preakness Stakes to Oxbow and won the Woodward Stakes in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palace Malice</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Palace Malice is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2013 Belmont Stakes. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old he made steady improvement in the early part of 2013, being placed in the Risen Star Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes and running prominently in the Kentucky Derby before winning the Belmont Stakes, and the 2014 Metropolitan Handicap. He went on to win the Jim Dandy Stakes and finish second against older horses in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. As a four-year-old in 2014 he won his first four races including the Gulfstream Park Handicap, New Orleans Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap. After two races in 2015, he was retired as a five-year-old and sent to stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm.

Verrazano is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2013, trained by Todd Pletcher, he established himself as one of the leading three-year-old colts with early wins in the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes. He finished fourteenth in the Kentucky Derby and missed the remaining two legs of the Triple Crown but returned to prominence later in the summer with wins in the Pegasus Stakes and the Haskell Invitational Stakes. In his four-year-old year, he was campaigned in Europe, trained by Aidan O'Brien.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Take Charge</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Will Take Charge is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, the horse is best known for his wins in the 2013 Travers Stakes and Clark Handicap and for being beaten by a nose in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic. He was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse for 2013. He was retired in September, 2014, and stands at stud at Three Chimneys Farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Front (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

War Front is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2006 he won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and finished second in the Forego Handicap and Vosburgh Stakes. Since retiring from racing he has become one of the most expensive sires in the world. His offspring include Declaration of War, The Factor, Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, Omaha Beach, Siege of Orleans and War of Will.

Malibu Moon was a Thoroughbred stallion bred in Kentucky. Retired young to stud following a racing injury as a two-year-old, Malibu Moon thereafter sired multiple grade I stakes winners, two Eclipse Award winners, and was the sire of Orb, winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunnevera</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Gunnevera is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Orphaned from an early age, he became the leading juvenile earner from the first crop of Dialed In. He was a contender on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes as a two-year-old and the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park during his three-year-old season. Given a layoff after finishing seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, he returned in August to win the Tangelo Stakes before finishing second in the Travers Stakes.

Dialed In is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2011 Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes, before finishing 8th in the Kentucky Derby. He is also the sire of multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera.

Known Agenda is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2021 Grade I Florida Derby.

References

  1. ↑ Staff. "Orb (KY)". Equibase. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Malibu Moon Stud Record". Racing Post. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  3. ↑ Staff. "Lady Liberty pedigree". Equibase. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Derby Contenders Oaks Contenders Daily Workouts. "Orb". Kentuckyderby.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  5. ↑ "Shug McGaughey at National Museum of Racing, Hall of Fame". Racingmuseum.org. 1993-10-16. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
  6. ↑ "SARATOGA – August 18, 2012 – Race 4". Equibase. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  7. ↑ "BELMONT PARK – September 8, 2012 – Race 1". Equibase. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "AQUEDUCT – November 24, 2012 – Race 2". Equibase. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Fountain of Youth Stakes result". Racing Post. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  10. ↑ "Florida Derby result". Racing Post. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  11. ↑ Gary Mihoces (May 4, 2013). "Orb gives McGaughey his first Kentucky Derby victory". USA Today. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  12. ↑ Paul Eacott (May 13, 2013). "McGaughey left with "chills" after watching Orb work". Racing Post . Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  13. ↑ "Will Take Charge gets up in time". ESPN. 24 August 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
  14. ↑ Shinar, Jack (September 29, 2013). "He's Back! Ron the Greek Shakes Up Gold Cup". BloodHorse. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
  15. ↑ "Kentucky Derby winner Orb retired to Claiborne Farm". Daily Racing Form. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-05.
  16. ↑ "Orb".
  17. ↑ "2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb settling in for career at stud | The Augusta Chronicle". chronicle.augusta.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-23.
  18. ↑ "Earth First Winner for Claiborne's Orb". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-06-12.
  19. ↑ "Kentucky Derby Winner Orb Sold to Stand in Uruguay - Horse Racing News | Paulick Report".
  20. ↑ "Episode 151: Orb is Horse". 6 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Orb pedigree". Equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
  22. ↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Woodbine – Family 8-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.