Oscar Performance

Last updated
Oscar Performance
Oscar Performance BCJT2016.jpg
Oscar Performance before the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
Sire Kitten's Joy
Grandsire El Prado
DamDevine Actress
Damsire Theatrical
Sex Colt
FoaledApril 6, 2014 [1]
CountryUnited States
Colour Bay
BreederMrs. Jerry Amerman
OwnerAmerman Racing, LLC
Trainer Brian A. Lynch
Record15: 8–0–1
Earnings$2,345,696 [2]
Major wins
Pilgrim Stakes (2016)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (2016)
Pennine Ridge Stakes (2017)
Belmont Derby (2017)
Secretariat Stakes (2017)
Poker Stakes (2018)
Woodbine Mile (2018)
Last updated on November 20, 2018

Oscar Performance (foaled April 6, 2014) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at age two. After losing his first two starts at age three, he rebounded to win the next three, including the Grade I Belmont Stakes and Secretariat Stakes. He then finished third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic before finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. After recovering from a bout of colic, he made his four-year-old debut in June 2018 in the Poker Stakes, winning in track-record time. In his next start as the favorite in the Arlington Million, he was pulled up after taking a bad step, but he rebounded to win the Woodbine Mile in September.

Contents

Background

Oscar Performance was foaled in Kentucky at Mill Ridge Farm. [3] He was bred by Mrs. Jerry Amerman and races for Amerman Racing, owned by Amerman and her husband John. [4] Oscar Performance was sired by Kitten's Joy, the U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse of 2004 whose wins included the Secretariat Stakes and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, plus a second place in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Unusually for a leading North American sire, his best offspring are also turf specialists, including Big Blue Kitten, Bobby's Kitten, Real Solution and Stephanie's Kitten. [5] Oscar Performance's dam, Devine Actress, was a stakes winner for Amerman Racing who had previously produced a stakes winning full brother to Oscar Performance named Oscar Nominated. [6]

"I remember him as a very attractive foal, the kind that you hope for", said Headley Bell of Mill Ridge Farm. "He continued to go that way as he grew. He was more of an alpha, but he stayed out of trouble." [3]

Oscar Performance was trained by Brian A. Lynch. [2]

Racing career

2016: two-year-old season

Oscar Performance made his first start on the turf course at Saratoga in a maiden special weight race on July 23, 2016, finishing fifth after trailing the field early and making a mild rally in the stretch. In his second start on August 20, he instead went to the early lead and continued to draw away from the field, eventually winning by 10+1⁄4 lengths. The performance caught the attention of many turf writers, earning him the "TDN Rising Star" designation from the Thoroughbred Daily News. [6]

Oscar Performance made his graded stakes debut at Belmont Park on October 1 in the Grade III Pilgrim Stakes. Over a yielding turf course, he went to the lead and set a comfortable pace before kicking clear in the stretch to win by six lengths. [7] The win earned Oscar Performance a berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, where he was made the 6–1 third choice in the betting. He settled in second behind a strong early pace set by Wellabled, then moved to the lead on the far turn. Down the stretch, he opened up a comfortable lead then withstood a late run by Lancaster Bomber to win by 1+1⁄4 lengths. It was the first win at the Breeders' Cup for Lynch and jockey José Ortiz. [8] [9]

2017: three-year-old season

Oscar Performance was given some time off then resumed workouts in February 2017. He made his first start as a three-year-old on April 7 in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland. [10] He tracked the early pace in third place but lacked his usual response when asked to run in the stretch and finished third. [11] In his next start in the American Stakes at Churchill Downs, he faded to last after setting the early pace. [12] Lynch later attributed the losses to the soft turf courses in Kentucky that spring. [13] John Amerman also thought that the colt did not respond well to the raceday medication Lasix (furosemide), which was administered for the first and only time before the American Stakes. [14]

Oscar Performance returned to form on June 3 in the Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont Park, where he took the lead soon after the start and won by 1+1⁄2 lengths. [13] He put in a similar performance when winning the Belmont Derby on July 8 by two lengths in front running fashion. [15] In his next start in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park on August 12, he faced a strong field including three European challengers and several local stakes winners. This time, he stalked the early pace set by Sonic Boom and then drew off in the stretch to win by 2+1⁄4 lengths. "You're never confident until the finish line, but they were very good horses", said John Amerman. "We're delighted Jose [Ortiz] could ride so well and beat them." [16]

On September 30, he faced older horses for the first time in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at a distance of 1+1⁄2 miles. He raced close to the early pace set by Converge but could not match the finishing kick of Beach Patrol and finished third. [17] He faced even more daunting competition in the Breeders' Cup Turf on November 4, where the European contingent included defending champion Highland Reel. Oscar Performance's best strategy was summed up by sportswriter Steve Haskin as "go to the front and let him run." [18] Oscar Performance set a moderate pace for the first mile, tracked by Beach Patrol and Highland Reel. Turning for home, Beach Patrol launched his bid and passed Oscar Performance in mid stretch, only to be passed near the wire by longshot Talismanic. Oscar Performance weakened in the last furlong to finish ninth. [19] [20]

2018: four-year-old season

Oscar Performance's return to the track was delayed by a bout of colic and did not make his four-year-old debut until June 17, 2018 in the Poker Stakes at Belmont Park. He stalked the early pace, started his move on the final turn and pulled away down the stretch to win by 1+1⁄2 lengths. His time for the one-mile race was 1:31.23, breaking the track record set by Elusive Quality in 1998. "Absolutely thrilled with his comeback effort", said Lynch. "He did it with authority and came back with a very fast time. That's a long-standing track record to break, so to have him do that off the layoff makes you look forward to the rest of the year." [21] The time also tied the North-American record set by Mandurah at Monmouth Park in 2010. [22]

Oscar Performance at the 2018 Breeders' Cup DSC 3210OscarPerformance.jpg
Oscar Performance at the 2018 Breeders' Cup

Oscar Performance made his next step on August 11 in the Arlington Million, going off as the 2-1 favorite. He broke slowly and settled into third place during the early running. Around the far turn, he was bumped by Robert Bruce, the eventual race winner, then recovered his stride and started to make up ground. However, he slowed during the stretch drive after taking a bad step and was pulled up by Ortiz. He walked into the track ambulance without evident distress [23] [24] and subsequently checked out sound. [25]

On September 15, Oscar Performance entered the Woodbine Mile in Toronto. The field included several well-regarded shippers from across North America and Europe, but Oscar Performance was left as the sole speed horse in the field when La Sardane scratched. After breaking slowly, Ortiz urged him to the lead, then slowed down the pace, completing the first half mile in 48.78 seconds. Ortiz then released Oscar Performance, who ran the second half mile in 44.44 seconds on his way to a convincing victory. "I was really emotional past the wire because this is one of my favorite horses", said Ortiz. "He gave me my first Breeders' Cup win and to see him last time loading up back to the barn was painful for me. I'm just very happy he's back and back on form that is at the highest level." [25]

The Woodbine Mile provided a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile, [25] held November 3 at Churchill Downs. Oscar Performance broke slowly and was never a factor in the race, finishing last in the field of fourteen. [26]

Stud

Oscar Performance was retired to stud at Mill Ridge Farm, where he stood in the 2019 season for $20,000. [27] For 2024 the stud fee for Oscar Performance was increased to $25,000. [28]

Notable progeny

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding

FoaledNameSexMajor Wins
2021Trikaric Belmont Derby
2021Endlesslyc Jeff Ruby Steaks

Pedigree

Pedigree of Oscar Performance, bay colt, 2014 [1]
Sire
Kitten's Joy
2001		 El Prado (IRE)
1989		 Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Lady Capulet Sir Ivor
Cap and Bells
Kitten's First (USA)
1991		 Lear Fan Roberto
Wac
That's My Hon L'Enjoleur
One Lane
Dam
Devine Actress
2005		 Theatrical (IRE)
1982		 Nureyev Northern Dancer
Special
Tree of KnowledgeSassafras
Sensibility
Devine Beauty
1996		 Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Magical Holiday Slew o' Gold
American Drama (Family: 20-b) [29]

Related Research Articles

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

Cigar, was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 1995 and 1996 American Horse of the Year. He was the first American racehorse racing against top-class competition to win 16 consecutive races since Triple Crown winner Citation did so between 1948 and 1950. His major wins included the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic, the NYRA Mile, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes (twice), Oaklawn Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Donn Handicap (twice) and the first running of the Dubai World Cup. He became the leading money earner in racing history and was later inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Kitten's Joy was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the American Champion Turf Horse of 2004. Since retiring to stud, he became one of the leading sires in North America and has had great success with his runners in Europe.

With Approval was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Canadian Triple Crown in 1989 under jockey Don Seymour. Even though he missed the rest of his three-year-old season due to injury, he was named the 1989 Canadian Horse of the Year.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is a series of Thoroughbred horse races in which the winner earns an automatic spot in a specified Breeders' Cup race. The challenge races change somewhat each year. The Challenge series began in 2007 with 24 "Win and You're In" races from 2 countries. By 2014, the series had grown to 71 races across 13 countries. During that period, 24 winners of Breeders' Cup races had qualified via the challenge series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better Talk Now</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse

Better Talk Now was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2004. His racing career stretched over nine seasons, during which he won 14 times, five of them Grade I stakes, with earnings of over $4.3 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Brown (horse trainer)</span> American horse trainer

Chad C. Brown is an American racehorse trainer. Brown is widely regarded as one of the elite trainers in the world, having won four consecutive Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in the United States 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he also achieved the highest position in the World Training Standings according to the Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (TRC) Global Rankings, becoming the first and only American trainer to be recognized as the World's Number One Trainer. Brown has secured two Preakness Stakes victories with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022, and narrowly missing a Kentucky Derby victory in 2024 with Sierra Leone. Early in his career, many sought to pigeonhole him as a "turf trainer" who specialized in fillies and mares. However, Brown's success has become so diversified that he has demonstrated the ability to win at any distance, with any sex, and on any surface. Brown has trained 19 Breeders' Cup winners, including Sierra Leone, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic Champion, further showcasing his dominance across the sport. Over his career, he has also trained thirteen Eclipse Award winners, including, Big Blue Kitten, Lady Eli, Flintshire, Goodnight Olive, and Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tepin (horse)</span> American Thoroughbred racehorse (2011–2023)

Tepin was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse of 2015 and 2016. She showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won the Delta Princess Stakes on the dirt. After a disappointing three-year-old season when she failed to win in four starts, she emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2015. Her wins as a four-year-old included the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes, Just a Game Stakes and First Lady Stakes before recording her biggest success when defeating male opposition in the Breeders' Cup Mile. In 2016, she won her first four starts and was then sent to England, where she defeated a field of leading European milers to win the Queen Anne Stakes. On returning to North America, she extended her winning streak to eight in the Woodbine Mile. The streak included three Grade/Group 1 wins against male horses in three different countries. Although Tepin finished second in her next two starts including an effort to defend her title in the Breeders Cup Mile, she was still named the Champion Female Turf Horse for the second year in a row. Tepin was inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020 and the US National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.

Big Blue Kitten is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who specialises in turf races. Unraced as a juvenile, he finished third on his debut in 2011 and then went on a five race winning streak, culminating in a victory in the Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. After winning one minor race as a four-year-old he emerged as a top-class turf performer in 2013 when his wins included the United Nations Stakes and the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes. His only win of consequence in 2014 came in the Lure Stakes but he returned to his best as a seven-year-old in 2015 winning the Fort Marcy Handicap, a second United Nations Stakes and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes. Apart from his victories he finished second in the Arlington Million and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His performances earned him the title of American Champion Male Turf Horse for 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irad Ortiz Jr.</span> Puerto Rican jockey (born 1992)

Irad Ortiz Jr. is a Puerto Rican jockey who has been a leading rider in the New York Thoroughbred horse racing circuit since 2012. He won his first Breeders' Cup race on Lady Eli in 2014, and his first American Classic on Creator in the 2016 Belmont Stakes. He won the 2022 Belmont Stakes on Mo Donegal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Speightstown (horse)</span> American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse (1998–2023

Speightstown was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2004 Breeders' Cup Sprint and was named that year's Champion sprinter. He also tied the track record for six furlongs at Saratoga race course. He became one of North America's leading sires.

The Pizza Man is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won multiple stakes races including the Arlington Million in 2015 and the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes in 2016, becoming the first Illinois-bred horse to win either of these Grade I races. In 2015, The Pizza Man was named Illinois-bred Champion Turf Male, Champion Handicap Male, and Illinois Horse of the Year. He retired in 2017 as the all-time leading money earner among Illinois-breds.

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

Practical Joke is a retired multiple Grade I-winning American Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included the Hopeful, Champagne and H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes.

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

Tourist is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2016 Breeders' Cup Mile. He raced unsuccessfully on dirt before switching to turf, where he quickly established himself as a stakes caliber horse. In addition to the Breeders' Cup Mile, he won the More Than Ready Mile Stakes and the Fourstardave Handicap, and over $2 million in earnings.

World Approval is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2017 Breeders' Cup Mile. A minor stakes winner at age three, he won his first Grade I race at age four in the United Nations Stakes. At age five, he won five of six starts including the Grade I Fourstardave Handicap and Woodbine Mile before his victory at the Breeders' Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wonder Gadot</span> Canadian racehorse

Wonder Gadot is a Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, in 2018. As a two-year-old, she was named the Canadian Champion Two-Year-Old Filly after winning the Mazarine and Demoiselle Stakes. At age three, in addition to beating the colts twice in Canada, she was second in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks to Monomoy Girl. She was named the 2018 Canadian Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Will (horse)</span> American racehorse

War of Will is a classic winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2019 Preakness Stakes and is one of only three modern-day racehorses to win a Grade One on dirt and turf. He also won the 2019 Lecomte Stakes, 2019 Risen Star Stakes, and 2020 Maker's Mark Mile Stakes.

Sir Winston is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2019 Belmont Stakes.

Bricks and Mortar is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Horse of the Year in 2019. After winning four of six starts at age three, he missed most of his four-year-old campaign due to illness. At age five however, he established himself as the top-ranked turf horse in North America with wins in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, Muniz Memorial Handicap, Turf Classic Stakes, Manhattan Handicap and Arlington Million. He then won the Breeders' Cup Turf to complete a perfect year.

Starship Jubilee is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year after recording three stakes wins that year including the Grade I E. P. Taylor Stakes. She was also named Canadian Champion Female Turf Horse in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2020, she has won five of seven starts including the Woodbine Mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knicks Go</span> American racehorse

Knicks Go is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2021 American Horse of the Year after winning five of seven starts, including the Breeders' Cup Classic, Whitney Stakes and Pegasus World Cup. The year before he won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. He is the sixth horse to win two different Breeders' Cup races.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pedigree of Oscar Performance". Equineline. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Oscar Performance Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 "The foal who grew up to win a ninth Breeders' Cup for Mill Ridge Farm". Thoroughbred Racing Commentary. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Oscar Performance captures Belmont Derby Invitational". Brisnet. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Kitten's Joy (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 "Kitten's Joy Colt Rewrites the Script in 'Rising Star' Performance". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "Oscar Performance Draws Off to Win Pilgrim". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  8. ↑ Posner, Jay. "Oscar Performance wins Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf race". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Oscar Performance Golden in Juvenile Turf". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Transylvania Marks 2017 Debut for Oscar Performance". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "Big Score Makes Huge Impression in Transylvania". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "Chart for the American Stakes". Equibase. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  13. 1 2 "Oscar Performance Wires Pennine Ridge". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "Oscar Performance captures Belmont Derby Invitational". Brisnet. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Oscar Performance Puts On a Show in Belmont Derby". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  16. ↑ "Oscar Performance Continues Roll With Secretariat Win". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  17. ↑ "Chart for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic". Equibase. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "Pace the Key to an Oscar Performance". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  19. ↑ "Chart of the Breeders' Cup Turf". Equibase. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Talismanic Surprises in Breeders' Cup Turf". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  21. ↑ Daugherty, Meredith. "Oscar Performance Sets Track Record in Poker Stakes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  22. ↑ "North American records". equibase.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  23. ↑ "Chart of the Arlington Million". equibase.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  24. ↑ Kieckhefer, Bob. "Robert Bruce Rallies to Arlington Million Victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  25. 1 2 3 Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Oscar Performance Digs in for Woodbine Mile Rebound". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "Chart of the 2018 Breeders' Cup Mile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  27. ↑ "Oscar Performance Settles in at Mill Ridge Farm". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  28. ↑ Mitchell, Eric (23 October 2023). "Stand for $25,000 in 2024; Oscar Performance is a top 10 second-crop sire by number of stakes winners". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Oscar Performance Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
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.