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- 2 YEAR OLD COLT ON DIRT
- 2 YEAR OLD FILLY ON DIRT
- 2 YEAR OLD COLT ON TURF
- 2 YEAR OLD FILLY ON TURF
- 3 YEAR OLD COLT ON DIRT
- 3 YEAR OLD FILLY ON DIRT
- 3 YEAR OLD COLT ON TURF
- 3 YEAR OLD FILLY ON TURF
- OLDER HORSE ON DIRT
- OLDER MARE ON DIRT
- OLDER HORSE ON TURF
- OLDER MARE ON TURF
- SPRINTER ON DIRT
- SPRINTER ON TURF
- TRAINER OF THE YEAR
- HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champion 3yo Dirt Colt
JEEPSTER
3yo colt - Seeking The Gold x Storm Cat x Danzig
OWNER/TRAINER – Super25 (Super)
RECORD: 2009: 10 / 7-0-1
LIFETIME EARNINGS: $6,308,695
2009 Stakes:
WON: Breeders Bowl Classic (G1), Travelers Stakes (G1), Eddie Haskell Stakes (G1), Middle Jewel Stakes (G1), Sand Castle Derby (G1), The Basket Case
3RD: The GoodyGood (G1)
A Classic Champion
By- Roxyken
As a two year old, Jeepster kicked off his career in racing showing off some decent speed numbers, finishing second in his first dirt start with a speed of 82. This was not a bad way to start where many two year olds are tough pressed to break out of the 60's. Jeepster's two year old campaign was brief and the results were decent, but not outstanding. In 5 starts, he posted a record of 1-1-1. There really wasn't any indication of the good things that would be coming to him as a three year old.
Jeepster's first race as a three year old evidenced a much more improved and mature horse. He ran in an allowance race at 9.5 furlongs, and rallied to an easy win with a vastly improved speed of 98.
With that victory, Trainer Super25 took his chestnut colt and decided to up the stakes. No pun intended, but Jeepster was then entered into his first stakes, The Basket Case (9f). Jeepster is a horse that is comfortable running in the middle of the pack, and that is where he settled in. As the field turned for home, Jeepster cut loose and won by a mere nose at 7-1.
Trainer Super25 had a good horse and put him to the test. The next race was a lock-in race to the Bluegrass Derby, the G1 Sand Castle Derby (9f). The oddmakers were not to comfortable in Jeepster's ability, and sent him off at 11-1. Jeepster proved them all wrong, winning his third consecutive race and breaking the 100-speed level for the first time, posting a speed of 104 and was now being sent to the big race!!!
Bluegrass Derby day... everyone is nervous, the oddmakers are still not convinced in Jeepster, sending him off at 19-1 despite jockey Haynes (22% win career) being aboard. The field was a tough one indeed, with Hot and Spicy winning. Jeepster ran 10 th early on, right in the middle of the huge 20-horse field. Jockey Haynes was able to maneuver him through a blockade of horses and finished a very respectful forth, three and a half off the winner and a mere ¼ length away from the show position.
Jeepster would now have his day. In the second leg of the Triple Crown, the G1 Middle Jewel Stakes (9.5f), Jockey Haynes would return. Bettors this time showed more respect and sent Jeepster off at 8-1 and were rewarded as Haynes let him loose at the 5 furlong mark. Jeepster roared to the front and walked away with a near 3-length win with a speed of 108.
The third leg of the triple crown was missed by both Jeepster and the Bluegrass Derby winner, Hot and Spicy. However, both would hook up again in the G1 Clerk of Scales Stakes (9.5f). Jeepster had won the respect of the oddmakers as he was sent off as the 5-1 favorite. Unfortunately, he put in a similar race to that of the Bluegrass Derby, finishing an honest forth.
The G1 Eddie Haskell (9f) would be next, and Jeepster found his way back to the Winner's Circle, winning by two strides and making it look easy. He moved on to his next marquee race, the G1 Travelers Stakes (10f) where he would once again meet up with Hot and Spicy. Concerns surrounded the race when the rain rolled in over night, creating a very sloppy track surface. Jeepster barely went off as the favorite at a very high 7-1 odds, reflecting the competitiveness of the race. But how would Jeepster handle the track? His first career start was on a yielding turf surface, which had lackluster results. This was a dirt track. Wet or dry, this is Jeepster's home. He once again thundered home beating Hail the Empire to the wire by a half length with Hot and Spicy no where to be seen.
In the final months of 2009, Jeepster entered into the G1 GoodyGood Stakes (9f) and was sent off at surprisingly high odds of 10-1. In the race, three horses took off to a quick lead, leaving Jeepster stuck in a tight pack of horses some 10 strides back. Jeepster had problems breaking out of this crowd, but when he did, he roared. Although he did not win, he finished third with a speed of 110, narrowly being beat by ½ length.
The end of his 2009 racing season was run in the very prestigious G1 Breeders Bowl Classic (10f), with a very rich $5 million dollar purse to boot. Jeepster would once again meet the Bluegrass Winner, Hot and Spicy, both being sent off as longshots in the race. Jeepster would once again reunite with Jockey Haynes and the two would find top honors as they mustered their way to the front late in the race to win by 1 ½ lengths and a career best speed of 115.
2009 was a great season for Jeepster, winning well over $6 million and scoring a record of 7-0-1 (with two fourths) in ten starts during the year. Jeepster has truly earned the honor of being the 2009 Three Year Old Cold Dirt Eclipse Winner.
Other contenders in this category included the Bluegrass Derby winner, Hot and Spicy. Also in the category was Juillett Blues, who won 6 of 12 starts during the year, including the G1 Sterile Mile. Vinfinity was also a nominee who won 8 of 12 races, including 7 of his last 8 which included a victory in the G1 Topicount Special (12f)
Congratulations once again to Trainer Super25 and horse Jeepster!!!