The Very One (1975–1992) was a millionaire

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

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 Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

mare 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 ...

. Owned by Helen Polinger and bred by Myrna Firestone and Peter Odell in

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

, she is a daughter of One For All, who in turn was sired by

Hall of Famer A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...

and prominent

sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" a ...

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...

. He was out of the

Veruschka sired by Venture. Trained by

Stephen A. DiMauro Stephen A. "Steve" DiMauro (November 29, 1932 – May 20, 2020) was a jockey, Champion trainer and successful breeder and owner in American Thoroughbred horse racing. A native of Camden, New Jersey, in 1952 DiMauro was an apprentice jockey ridin ...

, The Very One is best known for her grade two score in the 1979

Dixie Handicap The Dinner Party Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in mid-May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the eighth-oldest graded stakes race in the United States and the oldest stakes race in Maryland and all o ...

Pimlico Race Course Pimlico Race Course is a thoroughbred horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Ol ...

. After winning twelve

graded stakes race A graded stakes race is a thoroughbred horse race in the United States that meets the criteria of the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA). A specific grade level (I, II, III or listed) is then ...

s in 1978 and 1979, she won the grade one

Santa Barbara Handicap The Santa Barbara Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in mid April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. A Graded stakes race, Grade III event open to Filly, fillies and Mare (horse), mares, age four and older, it is co ...

at Santa Anita Park in 1981 at age six.

Dixie Handicaps

The Very One was stabled and trained in Maryland and was owned by Olney native Helen Polinger. After two years of racing, it was determined by her owner and trainer, Monti "Sonny" Sims imauro trained her later in her career that The Very One was a turf specialist. Mrs. Polinger was raised in Maryland and had always wanted to run a horse in the

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () on ...

. This was her chance to do the next best thing: run a horse in the

. The Dixie is Maryland's top race on the turf, run on Preakness day immediately prior to the Preakness Stakes. In May 1979 at age four, The Very One competed in the $125,000

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Dixie Handicap at

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. She was the only female in the field of nine and was given an eight-pound weight allowance (carrying 108 pounds) because of her gender. She was ridden by Charlie Cooke and pulled away to win by two lengths over two graded stakes winning five-year-olds in That's a Nice and Fluorescent Light. She set a new stakes record and track record for a mile and a half on the turf at 2:28 3/5. It was the fastest time run in 28 years at that distance. In 1980 as a five-year-old, The Very One had already won six stakes races and came back to defend her title at "Old Hilltop" (Pimlico) in the Dixie. Since she had fared so well that year and won the Dixie Handicap the year prior, she was given a weight allowance of only two pounds (carrying 116 pounds compared to 118). In that race, she was ridden by a different jockey than her regular rider. She performed well but gave up the lead at the wire to place second by a half length to graded stakes winner Marquee Universal.

Other Stakes wins

The Very One raced for five years between 1977 and 1981. Her first stakes win came in 1978 when she won the Anne Arundel Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse. In 1979, she won the Eatontown Handicap and the Parlo Handicap. She also won two stakes races in

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in 1980: the grade two Sheepshead Bay Handicap 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 ...

and the grade three

Long Island Handicap The Long Island Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in November at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. The race is for fillies and mares, age three and up, willing to race the one and one-half miles on the ...

Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a Thoroughbred horse racing facility and casino in the South Ozone Park, Queens, South Ozone Park and Jamaica, Queens, Jamaica neighborhoods of Queens, New York City, United States. Aqueduct is the only racetrack locate ...

. She won the grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap in 1980 and 1981 at

. In 1980, she won the

Santa Ana Handicap The Santa Ana Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run at annually Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California during the third week of March. The race is open to fillies and mares, age four and up, willing to race one and one-eighth miles on the tu ...

, the Black Helen Handicap, the Queen Charlotte Handicap and the

Violet Handicap The Violet Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Inaugurated in 1977, the current Listed race is open to fillies and mares age three and older and is raced on turf over a di ...

. In 1981, she won the grade one

at Santa Anita.

Stakes placings

The Very One ran second in two grade one races: the Washington D.C. International Handicap at Laurel Park Racecourse to

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and in the

Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap The Santa Margarita Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California for fillies and mares age four and older, it is contested on dirt over a distance of one and one-eighths miles. ...

at Santa Anita, both in 1979. She ran second to

John Henry in the grade two

Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap The Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap is a discontinued American Thoroughbred horse race open to horses aged three and older that was run each year at Hialeah Park Race Track in Hialeah, Florida until the track closed at the end of the 2001 racing season. ...

, placed second in the Orchid Handicap (G2), the Diana Handicap (G2), the grade three

Gallorette Handicap The Gallorette Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older over a distance of miles (8.5 furlongs) on the turf, run annually on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The ...

. She placed second in the grade three Chrysanthemum Handicap before winning that race the next two years. She ran second to Just a Game in the Flower Bowl Handicap in 1980 and finished second to Pearl Necklace in the Flower Bowl in 1979. She ran third in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1), the San Juan Capistrano Invitational (G1), the

Japan Cup The is one of the most prestigious horse races in Japan. It is contested on the last Sunday of November, post time of 15:40 at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters (about miles) run under weight for age conditions with ...

(G1), the Queen Charlotte Handicap (G3), the Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G3), and the

Beverly Hills Handicap The Red Carpet Handicap (known until 2013 as the Beverly Hills Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually (as of 2014) during Del Mar racetrack's fall meet which has been created to accommodate the overflow of established races ...

(G3).

Retirement

The Very One never produced a foal close to herself in racing ability and neither have any of her daughters. She died on July 10, 1992, at Polinger Farm in Olney, Maryland.

References

The Very One's pedigree and racing stats
{{DEFAULTSORT:Very One 1975 racehorse births 1992 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Horse racing track record setters Thoroughbred family 9-f