Caressing (April 18, 1998 – September 14, 2021) was an American
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...
racehorse and
broodmare
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four ...
. She won five of her eighteen races in a track career which lasted from July 2000 until November 2002. As a two-year-old she won two of her first four races before recording a 47/1 upset win in the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a -mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt (although the distance has varied, depending on the configuration of the host track) for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the Uni ...
, which led to her being named
American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.
The award originated in 1936 when both t ...
. In the following year her career was disrupted by illness but she did win the
La Troienne Stakes
The La Troienne Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, age four and older, over a distance of miles held annually in early May on the Kentucky Oaks day meeting at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky du ...
and the
Singapore Plate. After competing without success as a four-year-old she was retired from racing and had some success as a broodmare – the dam of two graded black type placed horses and multiple Grade 1 winner West Coast, Eclipse Champion 3 Year Old Male of 2018.
Background
Caressing was a dark bay or brown mare bred in Kentucky by
Brereton C. Jones
Brereton Chandler Jones (born June 27, 1939) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. From 1987 to 1991, he served as the 50th lieutenant governor of Kentucky and from 1991 to 1995, he was the state's 58th governor. He now ...
. She was from the first crop of foals sired by
Honour and Glory
Honour and Glory (foaled March 24, 1993 in Kentucky – July 17, 2018) was an American Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who won important races during his career. He was bred by William T. Young, William T. Young's Overbrook Farm and purchas ...
, a Kentucky-bred stallion whose wins included the
Breeders' Futurity Stakes
The Breeders' Futurity Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Currently offering a purse of $500,000, the race is open to two-year-old horses and is run ...
and the
Metropolitan Handicap
The Metropolitan Handicap, frequently called the "Met Mile", is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one mile (8 furl ...
. Honour and Glory was a male-line descendant of the
Godolphin Arabian
The Godolphin Arabian (–1753), also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred (the others were the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk). He was named after his best-kno ...
, unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who trace their ancestry to the
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian (foaled c. 1700) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Alep ...
. Caressing's dam Lovin Touch won four races and finished second in the
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of miles on the dirt annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The event currently offers a ...
in 1983.
Caressing was consigned to the
Keeneland
Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for it ...
sale as a
yearling
Yearling may refer to:
*Yearling (horse), a horse between one and two years old
*''The Yearling
''The Yearling'' is a novel by American writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, published in March 1938. It was the main selection of the Book of the Mo ...
in 1999 and bought for $180,000 by the bloodstock agent Mike Ryan on behalf of Carl Pollard. She was sent into training with the
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...
-based veteran trainer
David R. Vance who described the "smallish" filly as "a little on the ornery side. She's fairly easy to train, but don't make her do something she doesn't want to do".
Vance had sent out the winners of over a thousand races in a 34-year training career and was based in Barn 48 on the Churchill Downs backstretch. The overwhelming majority of his wins had come in
claiming race In Thoroughbred racing, a claiming race is a type of horse race in which the horses are all for sale at a specified claiming price until shortly before the race. In the hierarchy of horse races, based on the quality of the horses that compete, claim ...
s, but he had enjoyed some top-level success in the 1970s with Honky Star, a racemare who won the
Monmouth Oaks
The Monmouth Oaks is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey for three-year-old fillies. Named for England's Epsom Oaks, first run in 1779, the inaugural American edition took place in 1 ...
and the
Cotillion Handicap
The Cotillion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is run in late September or early October as a prelude to the annual Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships ...
.
Racing career
2000: two-year-old season
Caressing made her track debut in a
maiden race
In horse racing a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the se ...
over five and a half
furlongs
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...
at
Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex located on Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, famed for hosting the annual Kentucky Derby. It officially opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was ...
on July 2 and finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Madam Full Charge. In August she started at odds of
2.2/1 in a similar event at
Ellis Park Race Course
Ellis Park is a thoroughbred racetrack near Henderson, Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. While the track is located north of the Ohio River that forms the border between Kentuc ...
. Ridden as in her previous start by
Greta Kuntzweiler, she took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish and won by a length from Selassie. Her next race was the six furlong Bassinet Stakes at
River Downs
Belterra Park, formerly known as River Downs, is a racino located in Anderson Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, just outside the southeast limits of Cincinnati. It is owned by Gaming and Leisure Properties and operated by Boyd Gaming.
History
R ...
on September 2. Starting at odds of 3.5/1, she took the lead on the final turn and drew away from her rivals in the straight to win by seven lengths.
On September 30 Caressing was moved up in class and distance for the
Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes
The Arlington-Washington Breeders' Cup Lassie Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid September at Arlington Park Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Raced on Polytrack synthetic dirt over a distance of seven furlon ...
over one mile at
Arlington Park
Arlington International Racecourse (formerly Arlington Park, the name was Arlington Park Jockey Club from as soon as 1948 up to 1955) was a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago regi ...
, she finished second to Thunder Bertie, beaten two and three quarter lengths.
John Velazquez
John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey by earnings and both yea ...
took over the ride from the injured Kuntzweiler when Caressing contested the seventeenth edition of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, run that year at Churchill Downs on November 4. Before the race Vance commented "She deserves to get into the race", he said at the time. "We're taking a shot, but so are a lot of other people. Nobody is scared of anyone in this race. She knows the track at Churchill. She works well over it, and it's her home base."
Raging Fever (winner of the
Matron Stakes and the
Frizette Stakes
The Frizette Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies raced annually at Belmont Park in October. It is currently a Grade I stakes race at a distance of one mile. The Frizette is the female counterpart of the Champag ...
) started favorite ahead of Cindy's Hero (
Del Mar Debutante Stakes
The Del Mar Debutante Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run each year in early September at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. A Grade I event since 1999, the Debutante is raced on dirt at a distance of s ...
) and Notable Career (
Oak Leaf Stakes
The Chandelier Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at the end of September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is restricted to two-year-old fillies. The Grade II race is contested at a distance of one and one- ...
) with Caressing starting the 47/1 outsider of the fourteen runners field. Caressing raced in fifth place on the inside rail as Thunder Bertie set the pace before switching to the outside on the final turn. She took the lead a furlong from the finish and held off a late challenge from Platinum Tiara to win by half a length. After the race Velazquez commented "She gave me the best she's got. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect trip".
2001: three-year-old season
Caressing was expected to begin her second season at
Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Plantation may refer to:
*Oaklawn (Huntsville, Alabama), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Leon County, Florida)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Natchez, Louisiana)
The Oaklawn Plantation is a historic pl ...
but contracted a fever when being prepared for the
Honeybee Stakes
The Honeybee Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in late February or early March at Oaklawn Park Race Track in Hot Springs, Arkans ...
. The filly was sent to the Hagyard-Davidson-McGeee clinic near
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...
where she reportedly responded well to treatment. She made her belated three-year-old debut in the Grade III La Troienne Stakes over seven furlongs at Churchill Downs on May 3. Ridden by
Pat Day
Patrick Alan "Pat" Day (born October 13, 1953, in Brush, Colorado) is a retired American jockey. He is a four-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1991 an ...
, she started slowly and was repeatedly blocked and hampered in the early stages, but after being switched to the wide outside on the final turn she finished strongly to take the lead inside the final furlong and won by a length from Sweet Nanette. The filly was unplaced in her next two starts, finishing fifth behind Forest Secrets in the
Acorn Stakes
The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile with a current purse of $500,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara ...
at
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse racing facility in the northeastern United States, located in Elmont, New York, just east of the New York City limits. It was opened on May 4, 1905.
It is operated by the non-profit New York Racin ...
in June, and seventh to Zonk when starting favorite for the
Delaware Oaks
The Delaware Oaks Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid July at Delaware Park Racetrack in Stanton near Wilmington, Delaware.
Part of the Del Cap Festival Weekend that features other races over the two days including ...
in July. On August 11 Caressing, ridden by
René Douglas
René (''born again'' or ''reborn'' in French) is a common first name in French-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and German-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin name Renatus.
René is the masculine form of the name ( Renée being the feminin ...
started favourite for the Grade III Singapore Plate (better known as the
Arlington Oaks
The Arlington Oaks was an American Grade III Thoroughbred horse race run at Arlington Park racetrack near Chicago. Raced on dirt over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 Furlongs), the race is restricted to three-year-old fillies. It offers a purse of ...
) over nine furlongs at
Arlington Park
Arlington International Racecourse (formerly Arlington Park, the name was Arlington Park Jockey Club from as soon as 1948 up to 1955) was a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago regi ...
. She tracked the leaders before taking the lead in the straight and winning by a length from Gal On The Go. After the race, Douglas commented "She was very focused.
ance Ance may refer to:
* Ance (given name), a feminine given name
* Ance, Latvia
* Ance, Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Ance (; Gascon: ''Ansa'') is a former commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. O ...
told me to try and keep her on the outside, but when I took her inside at one point she didn't hesitate at all."
Caressing failed to win in four subsequent races in 2001. She finished sixth behind Exogenous in the
Gazelle Handicap
The Gazelle Stakes (formerly Gazelle Handicap until 2004) is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. It is a Grade III event run over a distance of miles on dirt that is open to three-yea ...
at Belmont in September and third to Scoop in the
Indiana Oaks
The Indiana Oaks is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville, Indiana.
History
The Indiana Oaks was inaugura ...
at
Hoosier Park
Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is a racino including a standardbred racetrack located in Anderson, Indiana, approximately 30 miles northeast of Indianapolis. It is owned and operated by Eldorado Resorts, Caesars Entertainment. The facility f ...
in October. In November she ran fourth to Nasty Storm in the
Churchill Downs Distaff and sixth to Forest Secrets when starting a 29/1 outsider for the
Falls City Handicap.
2002: four-year-old season
Caressing remained in training as a four-year-old, but failed to recover her best form. She began the year at
Oaklawn Park Oaklawn Plantation may refer to:
*Oaklawn (Huntsville, Alabama), listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Leon County, Florida)
*Oaklawn Plantation (Natchez, Louisiana)
The Oaklawn Plantation is a historic pl ...
where she finished fourth of the five runners in the
Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes and third when second favorite for the Listed Bayakoa Stakes. She was then covered by the stallion
Fusaichi Pegasus
Fusaichi Pegasus (; foaled April 12, 1997) is a champion American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2000 Kentucky Derby, and subsequently set a record at auction - selling for US$70M to Coolmore Stud.
Background
The colt was purchased as a y ...
and was found to be in foal (pregnant) but nevertheless resumed her racing career. She finished third in the
Chicago Handicap in June before running second in the Iowa Distaff Stakes at
Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows is a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racetrack casino located in Altoona, Iowa, United States.
History and information
In 1984, Prairie Meadows received a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming commission to operate a horse racing ...
a month later. She ended her racing career at
Ellis Park Race Course
Ellis Park is a thoroughbred racetrack near Henderson, Kentucky, just south of Evansville, Indiana. It is owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated. While the track is located north of the Ohio River that forms the border between Kentuc ...
on August 10, where she finished fourth behind Minister's Baby in the Grade III
Gardenia Handicap.
Assessment and awards
In the
Eclipse Awards
The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century Great Britain, British racehorse and Father, sire, Eclipse (horse), Eclipse.
An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division that is ...
for 2000, Caressing was named
American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
The American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971.
The award originated in 1936 when both t ...
.
Breeding record
Caressing was retired from racing to become a broodmare. She produced eight foals, seven of whom have won:
*My Goodness, a dark bay or brown filly, foaled in 2005, sired by
Storm Cat
Storm Cat (February 27, 1983 – April 24, 2013) was an American Thoroughbred stallion whose breeding fee during the peak of his stud career was $500,000, the highest in North America at the time. He was the leading sire in North America in 1999 ...
, won one minor race from six starts in the United States. Dam of
Danon Kingly.
*Fun Affair, bay filly, 2007, by
Distorted Humor
Distorted Humor (foaled March 19, 1993 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.
Bloodline
Distorted Humor's sire is Forty Niner, 1987's Eclipse Award winning Outstanding Two-Year-Old Male Horse by the champio ...
, won one minor race in Britain
*Dove Forest, dark bay or brown filly, 2008, by
Forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...
, won two minor races in the United States
*Royal Rhiannon, bay filly, 2009, by
Broken Vow
"Broken Vow" is a song that was written by Lara Fabian and Walter Afanasieff for Fabian's self-titled album released in 1999. The music track has a very strong resemblance to '' Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor'', Op.18: Adagio sostenuto by Serg ...
, won two minor races in the United States
*Stormy Caress, bay filly, 2010, by
Stormy Atlantic
Stormy may refer to:
Entertainment
* Stormy (album), ''Stormy'' (album), by Hank Williams, Jr.
* Stormy (song), "Stormy" (song), a 1968 song by the Classics IV
* Stormy (film), ''Stormy'' (film), a 1935 drama starring Noah Beery Jr., also the titl ...
, winless in seven races
*Gold Hawk, bay gelding, 2011, by
Empire Maker
Empire Maker (April 27, 2000 - January 18, 2020)[West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to:
Geography Australia
* Western Australia
*Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia
* West Coast, Tasmania
**West Coast Range, mountain range in the region
Canada
* Britis ...]
, bay colt, 2014, by Flatter, multiple graded stakes winner, including Grade I
Travers Stakes
The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Mid-Summer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds according to internation ...
[ ]
Death
Caressing died on September 14, 2021, at Hermitage Farm.
Pedigree
References
{{reflist
1998 racehorse births
2021 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in Kentucky
Racehorses trained in the United States
Thoroughbred family 9-f
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winners