Blue Stripe
Blue Stripe (foaled October 27, 2017) is a dual-hemisphere Argentine-bred multiple Graded Stakes winning Thoroughbred racehorse. Her graded wins include the Group 1 Gran Premio Criadores in Argentina and the Grade I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes in 2022 at Del Mar in Southern California. She was named the 2021 Argentine Champion Older Mare.[3]
| Blue Stripe | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Equal Stripes |
| Grandsire | Candy Stripes |
| Dam | Blues for Sale |
| Damsire | [[Not For Sale (horse)|Not For Sale) |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 27 October 2017[1] |
| Country | Argentina |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Haras La Manija |
| Owner | Pozo de Luna |
| Trainer | Nicolas Martin Ferro (2019–Jun 2021) Marcelo Polanco (Sept. 2021) |
| Record | 10 : 6-2-2 |
| Earnings | $801,882[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Arturo R. Y Arturo Bullrich (2021) Gran Premio Criadores (2021) Santa Margarita Stakes (2022) Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (2022) | |
| Awards | |
| Argentine Champion Older Mare (2021) | |
Background edit
Blue Stripe is a bay mare, bred by Haras La Manija in Argentina and owned by Mexican Jose Cerillo of Lomas de Chapulpepec's Pozo de Luna. Blue Stripe's sire is the Argentine bred Equal Stripes, who has three winners of the Group 1 Gran Premio Nacional (Argentine Derby) among his progeny. He led the Argentine general sire list in 2020.[4] Blue Stripe's dam Blues for Sale was a Group winner in Argentina over 1200-1600 metre distances. Blue Stripe is a half-sister to Blue Prize, the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff winner at Santa Anita.[5]
In Argentina, Blue Stripe was trained by Nicolas Martin Ferro and ridden by jockey Pavon Eduardo Ortega in all her races. In the US, she was trained by Marcelo Polanco.
Racing career edit
Argentina edit
Blue Stripe began her career October 20, 2020 in the Premio Angel Comanche, a maiden event for three-year-old fillies at Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo, winning it by half a length over her owner's co-entry Serenata Huasteca in 1:37:98.[6] A month later she was entered in the Group 1 Gran Premio Enrique Acebal over 2000 meters on the turf track at Hipódromo de San Isidro and found the class rise of the event challenging, staying up near to the leaders and fading to finish third beaten by 3 lengths to the fast finishing Bellagamba.[7] Staying at San Isidro, Blue Stripe ran once more in the Group 1 Copa de Plata Roberto Vasquez Mansilla Internacional on December 19, 2020. Facing a field of sixteen, Blue Stripe again bounced out into the leading pack and was third down the back stretch. Staying along the rail as the field entered the straight, Blue Stripe managed to get a split and surged to challenge the eventual winner Elvas, but was found short and was overtaken close to home to finish third.[8]
After a short break, Blue Stripe resumed on Feb 5, 2021 in the Listed Clásico Haras Argentinos on the dirt. Starting at odds of 19/5, Blue Stripe defeated the favorite Special Dubai by a 3⁄4 length in a fast time of 1:58.82.[9] A month later on Mar 6, 2021, in the Group 2 Clásico Arturo R. Y Arturo Bullrich, Blue Stripe as the 3/10 odds-on favorite soundly defeated her four rivals by eight lengths.[10]
In her last race in Argentina, Blue Stripe was entered to run in the Group 1 Gran Premio Criadores, designated as a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the Breeders' Cup Distaff, whose winner would receive a free berth and fees paid for the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Blue Stripe started well in a field of eleven, staying off the rail in third behind pacesetter Kalivia, who took the field through the half mile in :46.40 and the mile in 1:34.37. As Kalivia faded, Blue Stripe moved into first along the rail, but was quickly engaged by the three-year-old Mahagonny, the 5-1 second choice. As the two fillies battled in the stretch, the three-year-old 84/1 longshot Soviet Catch mounted a furious drive on the outside in the final furlong, passing Mahagonny at the wire for second, but ran out of ground to collar Blue Stripe.[11][12]
With four victories and twice third, Blue Stripe earned an equivalent of US$41,882 in her six starts in Argentina.
United States edit
On November 6, Blue Stripe, now trained by Marcelo Polanco, started in the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar. She faced a very strong field headlined by Letruska (Apple Blossom Handicap, Ogden Phipps Stakes, Personal Ensign Stakes, Spinster Stakes), Malathaat (Kentucky Oaks, Alabama Stakes), Clairiere (Cotillion Stakes), Shedaresthedevil (Kentucky Oaks, Clement L. Hirsch Stakes) and Royal Flag (Zenyatta Stakes).[13] Ridden by British Champion Jockey Lanfranco Dettori, Blue Stripe got shuffled shortly after the start, angled to the inside, steered off the rail backstretch, moved closer outside a rival, went three wide into the far turn, five wide into the stretch, failed to threaten around the bend, and weakened in the stretch run to finish seventh behind the Japanese-owned longshot Marche Lorraine.[14]
2022: five-year-old season edit
Blue Stripe remained in California, preparing for her five-year-old season.
After a lengthy winter break, Blue Stripe was entered in the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at Santa Anita on 30 April. The 11/10 favorite, Miss Bigly, took the lead with a five-wide sweep into the stretch at the eighth pole and looked home free in the 1+1⁄8-mile event. Then Blue Stripe, ridden by Tyler Baze, surged even wider and went by Miss Bigly about 75 yards from the wire to win by a length in a time of 1:50.52. Marcelo Polanco said, "She was so fresh, she was ready to do something. I asked the connections if it was OK to run her in here, and they said, 'Whatever you think.' We just went for it." Jockey Tyler Baze pointed out, "I hadn't been on her, but I heard some reports that said she was ready and working tremendous. That's what my agent told me this morning. I didn't know what kind of gas pedal I had under me until the three-eighths pole. I asked her, and she ran up to 'em so quick, it caught me off guard. I had to tap on the brakes, but even with doing that, when I asked her again she accelerated and came home."[15]
On June 18, Blue Stripe faced five other entrants in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita. She pulled a bit into the first turn, moved to the inside around that bend, tipped out and took aim two and then three wide into the stretch, and finished well but could not get to favorite Private Mission and was 3⁄4 lengths short.[16]
On August 6, Blue Stripe garnered her first Grade 1 win in the US in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar. The 1+1⁄16-mile event developed just as trainer Marcelo Polanco and Hector Berrios drew it up. Familiar foes Private Mission and Shedaresthedevil, who had won the race the previous year, went at a lively pace on the front end, with Private Mission completing the first quarter-mile in :23.18. Blue Stripe raced easily in third position of the five entries. Berrios recalled, "The race went exactly as we planned it. We wanted to sit behind the speed horses, then go get them late." As the field headed to the second turn, Shedaresthedevil challenged Private Mission for the lead. When Shedaresthedevil took over, the race was looked similar to the previous year's edition. However, Blue Stripe, the 5/1 third choice, ranged up outside of Shedaresthedevil, edged ahead turning for home, got clear of the favorite by the eighth pole, and scored by 1+3⁄4 lengths in 1:42.97.[5]
On November 5, in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, Blue Stripe finished second by a nose to Malathaat in a three-way photo finish, with Clairiere finishing third.[17]
Statistics edit
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade/ Group | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time | Winning (Losing) Margin | Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 – three-year-old season (Southern hemisphere) | |||||||||||
| Oct 19, 2020 | 1600 metres | Maiden | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.75[a] | 9 | 1 | 1:37:97 | 1⁄2 length | Eduardo Pavon | [6] | |
| Nov 21, 2020 | 2000 metres | Gran Premio Enrique Acebal | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 8.25 | 9 | 3 | 2:00.65 | (3 lengths) | Eduardo Pavon | [7] |
| Dec 19, 2020 | 2000 metres | Copa de Plata Roberto Vasquez Mansilla Internacional | I | Hipódromo de San Isidro | 7.55 | 16 | 3 | 2:01.84 | (3+1⁄2 lengths) | Eduardo Pavon | [8] |
| Feb 5, 2021 | 2000 metres | Clasico Haras Argentinos | Listed | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 3.80 | 8 | 1 | 1:58.92 | 3⁄4 length | Eduardo Pavon | [9] |
| Mar 6, 2021 | 2000 metres | Arturo R. Y Arturo Bullrich | II | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 0.30* | 5 | 1 | 2:01.66 | 8 lengths | Eduardo Pavon | [10] |
| May 1, 2021 | 2000 metres | Gran Premio Criadores | I | Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo | 1.10* | 11 | 1 | 1:59.01 | head | Eduardo Pavon | [18] |
| 2021 – four-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Nov 6, 2021 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Breeders' Cup Distaff | I | Del Mar | 53.30 | 11 | 7 | 1:47.67 | (16+3⁄4 lengths) | Lanfranco Dettori | [14] |
| 2022 – five-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Apr 30, 2022 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Santa Margarita Stakes | II | Santa Anita | 6.40 | 9 | 1 | 1:50.52 | 1 length | Tyler Baze | [19] |
| Jun 16, 2022 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Santa Maria Stakes | II | Santa Anita | 1.60 | 6 | 2 | 1:43.46 | (3⁄4 length) | Tyler Baze | [16] |
| Aug 6, 2022 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Clement L. Hirsch Stakes | I | Del Mar | 5.30 | 5 | 1 | 1:42.97 | 1+3⁄4 lengths | Hector Berrios | [20] |
| Nov 5, 2022 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Breeders' Cup Distaff | I | Keeneland | 24.02 | 8 | 2 | 1:49.07 | (nose) | Hector Berrios | [21] |
Legend:
Turf Dirt
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Blue Stripe was the post-time favorite.
Retirement edit
After the 2022 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Blue Stripe was sold at the Fasig-Tipton November sale, where she was purchased for $4,000,000 by Emmanuel de Seroux of Narvick International for Grand Farm in Japan.[22]
Pedigree edit
| Sire Equal Stripes (ARG) (1999) | Candy Stripes (USA) (1982) | Blushing Groom (FR) (1974) | Red God (USA) (1954) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runaway Bride (GB) (1962) | |||
| Bubble Company (FR) (1977) | Lyphard (USA) (1969) | ||
| Prodice (FR) (1969) | |||
| Equity (ARG) (1991) | Equalize (USA) (1982) | Northern Jove (CAN) (1968) | |
| Zonta (USA) (1973) | |||
| Elysee (ARG) (1977) | El Gran Capitan (ARG) (1971) | ||
| Empiric (ARG) (1966) | |||
| Dam Blues for Sale (ARG) (2003) | Not For Sale (ARG) (1994) | Parade Marshal (USA) (1983) | Caro (IRE) (1967) |
| Stepping High (USA) (1969) | |||
| Love For Sale (ARG) (1979) | Laramie Trail (USA) (1972) | ||
| Museliere (ARG) (1973) | |||
| Key Cure (USA) (1996) | Cure the Blues (USA) (1978) | Stop the Music (USA) (1970) | |
| Quick Cure (USA) (1971) | |||
| Dancer's Key (USA) (1987) | Key to the Mint (USA) (1969) | ||
| Dancer's Saga (USA) (1977) (Family 16-g)[23] |
References edit
- ^ a b "Pedigree of Blue Strike (ARG)". Equineline. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Blue Strike profile". Equibase. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Perfil Blue Stripe". www.studbook.org.ar. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ Hunter, Avalyn (2022). "American Classic Pedigrees (Equal Stripes (ARG))". Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b Gantz, Tracy (6 August 2021). "Blue Stripe Punches BC Distaff Ticket With Hirsch Upset; Desert Dawn rallied to grab second over Shedaresthedevil, who settled for third". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Chart for 19 October 2020, Angel Comanche Maiden at Palermo". Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Gran Premio Enrique Acebal Group 1 - (race 10)". Hipódromo de San Isidro - Jockey Club A.C. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Gran Premio Copa de Plata-Roberto Vasquez Mansilla Internacional Group 1 - (race 8)". Hipódromo de San Isidro - Jockey Club A.C. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Clasico Haras Argentinos Listed - (race 10)". Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. 5 Feb 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Clasico Arturi R. Y Arturo Bullrich Group 2 - (race 12)". Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. 6 Mar 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Blue Stripe Wins Gran Premio Criadores at Palermo; Blue Stripe wins Premio Criadores at Palermo to earn berth in Breeders' Cup Distaff". bloodhorse.com. Breeders' Cup. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "2021 Gran Premio Criadores - Blue Stripe". youtube.com. Breeders' Cup. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Letruska carries Horse of the Year hopes into Distaff". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
- ^ a b "2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10)". www.equibase.com. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ Rollins, Molly; McNamara, Ed (30 April 2022). "Blue Stripe Earns Sneaky Victory in Santa Margarita Brickyard Ride never in doubt in April 30 Kona Gold score". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Santa Maria Stakes Grade 2 – (race 7)". Equibase. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Wilkin, Tim (5 November 2022). "Malathaat Wins BC Distaff in Three-Way Photo Finish; Malathaat edges out Blue Stripe and Clairiere by the slimmest of margins". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "G. P. Criadores Group 1 - Copa Breeders' Cup Distaff (race 6)". Hipódromo Argentino de Palermo. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Santa Margarita Stakes Grade 2 – (race 10)". Equibase. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ "Clement L. Hirsch Stakes Grade 1 – (race 9)". Equibase. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 - (race 10)". www.equibase.com. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ Rollins, Mary; Perez, Joe (2022-11-06). "Narvick Lands Blue Stripe, Grace Adler at Fasig-Tipton". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Polly Agnes (GB) - Family 16-g". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 9 August 2022.