1st: Bluegrass Derby -G1, Middle Jewel Stakes -G1, The New Yorker -G1, Travelers Stakes -G1, Chicago Derby -G2
2nd: Eddie Haskell Stakes -G1, Swamps Stakes -G1, Felipe Alou Cap -G2
3rd: Breeders Bowl Classic -G1

By- Whirlwind

What an exceptional generation of sophomore colts we were treated to this past year. Some of the performance highlights by this class included the fastest mile ever run, the winner of the Breeders Bowl Classic, a turf horse that dominated a division unlike any since the great JOE CAYENNE and of course, history’s first Triple Jewel Champion. The public has spoken and the best of the best of his class is the Triple Jewel winner and champion I SEEK U.

Who would have suspected the greatness in I SEEK U as he entered his sophomore season with only a maiden and allowance win to his credit as a juvenile. He was a late foal of 2002 and is out of the Grade stake winning mare, PROSPECT DEALING. His dam was a top sprinter and Indy sent her to Gone West because he wanted some Secretariat influence as well as the ability to be competitive at middle distances. His Breeder appears to have been rewarded with a bit more than he expected. As a juvenile, he raced twice, breaking his maiden at first asking and then winning an allowance.

As Indy entered 2003, he did not have his eyes on the Triple Jewels because of his colt’s lack of graded earnings as a juvenile. I SEEK U started his year with two allowance wins that showed an improving and maturing colt. He was then entered in the Gd.II, Felipe Alou Cap in France and though he broke poorly, he quickly recovered and was gaining on the winner to finish 2nd , beaten only 1 ¾ lengths. At this point, Indy felt he might have a special colt with an outside chance at the Derby. His next race was a brilliant front running victory in the Gd.I, Chicago Derby in Illinois. That win set his timing to the Derby nicely but raised the problem of qualifying entry into the big dance. Indy’s colt was right on the cusp and as entries were tabulated it was still uncertain if he would draw into the race.

As luck would have it, I SEEK U was the last horse to draw into the 20-horse field, imagine if an injured colt hadn’t been injured or a turf horse wanted to take that shot at glory, we could be reading about a different horse. In fact, his trainer also had him entered in a minor Gd.II that day, and would have been happy with a win there. He went off in the Derby at odds of 11/1 and when the gates opened, he never looked back and was pulling away as they came down the stretch and running the mile and a quarter in 2:01 1/5. He went to Maryland for the Middle Jewel and entered to the gate at odds of 5/1 and once again smoked the field in wire-to-wire style with authority.

The buzz started and the world had a new superstar as he prepared for the "test of the champion" in New York. His trainer had sleepless nights, worrying about his colt and wondering if the first two legs had taken their toll on his colt. As race week approached, I SEEK U wasn’t sharp and the weather was not co-operating but Indy entered him and hoped for the best. The best is what he got, racing against a very strong field and pressed every step of the way, he won the New Yorker by less than a length and for the first time, we had a Triple Jewel Champion.

It was time for a break from competition and Indy gave his colt six weeks of rest. It is to I SEEK U’s credit that he was healthy and remained sound for the entire year. His trainer was dead game as well, continuing to place his colt against the best, dancing every dance and dodging no one. Next up was the Gd.I, Swamps Stakes in California and I SEEK U was cranked and ready and led every step of the way until the last jump to lose by a head. Undaunted, he returned to New York for the 2 major summer 3 year old races and ran a big race to finish 2nd to Silverwore in the Gd.I, Eddie Haskell and setting up what would become a great rivalry. Racing shifted to the Spa and racing fans were anticipating the midsummer derby, the $1,000,000 Gd.I, Travelers and the battle that would ensue with the best of the generation. Indy had his colt ready and when the bell rang, the champion was ready, once again wiring the field and pulling away down the lane to win his 4th million-dollar race of the year. Up next was one of the last races of the year with his own age group before facing older horses. In the LA Derby, he was a tired colt and raced like it, suffering his worst career defeat, beaten over 14 lengths, while finishing 6th.

It was now time to face older horses and the prestigious Gd.I, Jockey Guild Gold Cup in New York was next on the campaign. After breaking alertly, I SEEK U was pressed all the way and after his long season, he tired in the stretch to finish 7th, beaten 4 lengths but re-showing signs of his dominance. The Breeders Bowl Classic was next and the racing world hotly anticipated this dream match-up between the best horses in training. It was a classic race to say the least, with a length separating the first three finishers, but it was his rival, SILVERWORE who won the day, with I SEEK U finishing third. His trainer attributes his last race of the year in the Gd.I, Topicount Special on DelPenn Champions Day to be a fluke and has tried to erase it from his memory as just a bad day.

Indy’s goals in 2004 for I SEEK U is to defend his colt’s reputation, win a few graded races, participate in the Breeders Bowl and look forward to some thrilling races with his rival, SILVERWORE and other top handicap horses. In point of fact, I SEEK U started his 2004 season with a win in the Gd.II, Toilet Scrubbers and is only looking forward.

Through the Binoculars: It was a great year for 3-year-old colts and kudos go out to ALLIED ASSAULT, SILVERWORE, ERUPTION and BRISTOL ROVERS for their outstanding seasons. It was also interesting because of Hannibal’s gamesmanship and Kingab resolutely keeping to his game plan…On a more personal note, it is great to see the respect and sportsmanship for the yearly Eclipse Awards. When Kingab and I started them five years ago and ran them ourselves from the nominations, voting committees and writing all the stories, we got so much grief, this year was an absolute breeze, so thanks to all on the nomination committee and the voting public and everyone who makes it a great event in our little universe, especially you Larry, Dennis, Sharon and Roys for the great effort….Whirlwind….even a bad day at the track is better than a good day anywhere else….