Hall Of Fame - Dbacks

Original article written by Danny Warren posted 12 years 1 week ago

The early years of mixed breed racing in the SIM was a real learning experience for everyone. No one knew whether there would be enough interest to justify its addition. That was soon put to rest, but one obstacle that made life hard for the adventurous trainers in a new frontier was the foundation horses of the different breeds.

The Create-A-Horse company within the SIM has done a marvellous job throughout the history of the SIM to provide good quality horses of all sizes, shapes and colours to the many trainers who pay for their services. But even they had their work cut out for them with the introduction of the mixed breeds, with a lot of horses required to meet demand and no experience in developing anything other than thoroughbreds before.
The company did a fantastic job to produce the horses required, on time and all looking good, but due to the rushed way in which they had to work to achieve this, not one of these initial horses came with any details of their parentage.
This meant that each and every horse was a puzzle within itself, as with no pedigree to get a clue from, it would take trial and error with a certain amount of hope to find out what was best for each horse.

With all the usual things to take into consideration as well, there’s something special about a horse who had as many owners as he did wins in a very short racing career.
His name is known to all Quarterhorse aficionados, not only as an outstanding racehorse but also as perhaps the true father of the breed, with his fine record at stud continuing to this day, just as sought after now as he was on retirement.

Will Dumas was one of the hopeful owners venturing into new territory as he was ushered into the viewing area at the Create-A-Horse company’s private facility. He was taken by a powerfully built young buckskin, who had a black muzzle and kind eyes. Will happily handed over a $5000 cheque and he and his new horse were ushered away just as quickly. His registration certificate merely stated that his new purchase was a buckskin quarter horse and nothing more and so the adventure would begin.

Named Dbacks, the youngster seemed to work well enough, but as all trainers were at this stage, Will could only guess if Dbacks would need a shorter or longer journey.
Hoping for the best and unable to get a run in a maiden, Will entered Dbacks in a 870 yards NW2 at Los Angelitos and took his place in the stands as Dbacks faced five opponents. Will looked on aghast as Dbacks missed the start, and the look on his face never changed, although for a different reason. Dbacks set out to chase down his rivals and while Will would have been pleased at that moment for him to just catch the field, Dbacks not only caught up, but went streaming straight past, drawing away for a huge five and a quarter length win that had to be seen to be believed.

As amazing as his first start was, it was a just a bit part of the drama of the next couple of weeks. In this short period of time, Dbacks found himself first moved to the stable of Chris Binsh and then just five days later at the barn of Skippy Bowen.
Skippy quickly entered Dbacks for another run in an NW2, this time over the shorter 650 yards. Between the upheavals in the colts everyday life and the much shorter trip, Dbacks did a great job to still finish in the money, battling into fifth place.
High up in the stands though, a face in the crowd saw something.

Jarrod Brush sought out Skippy Bowen after the race and for $50,000, Dbacks found himself in his fourth barn in less than two months.

Jarrod sponsored a Gr.3 race over 870 yards, naming it the I Wanna Go Fast Stakes and a small but interesting field lined up the gates, with Sens, Total Package and Pride Mg all having similar records as Dbacks.
The field stormed the gates together, but by the time there was two furlongs to go, it was a one act affair, with Dbacks going further ahead the further they went, eventually winning by a stunning nine lengths. His pure pace over the journey caused havoc amongst the others, breaking their hearts as they staggered home well spaced apart, with twenty five and a half lengths separating Dbacks from the final horse, an incredible feat.

Just like that, Dback had paid for himself and the authority of that victory had everyone talking.
Unable to find a suitable race, Jarrod again sponsored a race, this time the $100,000 listed Go Fast And Win Stakes over Dbacks favourite 870 yards. With the media outlets all declaring Dbacks as the greatest Quarterhorse around, only Ramey Furney answered the challenge, sending maiden Playing With Fire I and winner of his last two starts, Giive No Quarter. The three horses broke into stride together, but as expected, Playing With Fire quickly dropped off, leaving Giive No Quarter out in front, with Dbacks waiting. Raymond Black on Dbacks gave him his head and Dbacks began to explode in the run home. Giive No Quarter though was not giving up in a hurry and a shock looked to be in the making. Dbacks was under a lot of vigorous riding by Black and he responded like good horses do and got up just in time by half a length from a very courageous Giive No Quarter, with nearly twenty lengths to Playing With Fire I.

The end of the year approaching, Jarrod knew that there was a race which was the perfect opportunity to seal his greatness, if of course he could continue his remarkable form. The Gr.1 Hollywood Marathon would bring together the best routing quarter horses around with the handy Trickster’s Star, It’s All About Me, Shiner Bock along with Lukers and the horse who nearly got him last time Giive No Quarter.
Jarrod admitted later that he thought the whole plan had fallen to pieces when Dbacks was slow away at the start, but with determination, he drove through the field until just three horses were still in front of him with a furlong to go. Digging into his reserves of strength and courage, Dbacks unleashed a withering late burst, edging past Trickster’s Star in the shadows of the post to win by a half length.
Pandemonium broke loose in the stands and the standing ovation lasted until well after Dbacks had been unsaddled and had a garland placed around his neck.
Jarrod though had a surprise for those in attendance, announcing that Dbacks, after just a single season of racing, was retiring straight to stud.
The applause and all sound at Los Angelitos stopped dead and for a brief moment, time stood still as the shock took everyone’s breath away.
Dbacks himself broke the silence, whinnying as he began to drag his handler back towards his stall for a well earned drink.

Not surprisingly, Dbacks has been popular at stud with many owners hoping that he can pass on some of his brilliance to his sons and daughters. He is still standing for $10,000 at Peyto South in New Mexico and has at time of writing had 250 foals, 168 of which have raced with a 53.6% winners to runners, earning an average of over $30,000.
His best runners have been twelve times winner Fiery Fantasy, Feared Perfection who like his Sire won the Gr.1 California Marathon, To Fly Four You, Duke of Diamonds and To Good Four You.

Dbacks may not have been around for a long time on the racetrack, but the shooting star certainly made his mark on a breed making it’s way into the psyche’s of the collective SIMWorld.

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