Hall of Fame Profile: Gaze Unwavering

Original article written by Shiloh Grevertz posted 8 years 3 weeks ago

Racing at two, three, and four, Gaze Unwavering won multiple stakes or graded stakes every year, facing against some of the best horses of his time. Gaze Unwavering commanded the attention of every spectator in every race. At the end of his career, out of 17 starts, he posted 11 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 off the board finished, with earnings at $7,525,000. His offspring have amassed over $13 million dollars.

His pedigree hailed royaltee. Fusaichi Pegasus, a rememberable sire whose offspring had earned over $45 million, including over $5 million earner Bishoujo Senshi, $7 million purse winner Loki Masterpiece, and half a dozen more millionaires. Gaze Unwavering ’s dam was named Yanks Music, an unraced mare. Having 12 foals, 3 of them were millionaires, which made her progeny earning over $12 million. Faith Unwavering, a full brother to Gaze Unwavering earned $1.5 million dollars in his racing career.

Bred by The Steward, then later owned by Gerry Hardie, he started off his career ( in Year 9) in the One In A Million Stakes going 4 ½ furlongs. He didn’t have a start that most champions had. He finished 4th in a field of 5. The win would go to Brave the Storm.

Three weeks later, he would return in a 6 furlong msw. He showed what he was made of by winning it dominate over Ghostly Image, a future multiple Grade 1 winner.

Trying stakes once again, they went from Kentucky to Florida for the Graduation Year Stakes. Breaking well from the field of six, Gaze Unwavering was taken back to settle in the back of the field early on. When asked he chased the leaders before closing fast and gamely winning the race. Gaining his first stakes win, Gaze Unwavering was just giving us a glimpse of what he would do later on in his brilliant career.

Staying in Florida at the Futurity Park, Gaze Unwavering was sent to tackle the field of five in the Flight of the Hero Stakes. Early on he ran in his normal position, taken back from the lead. When asked, the chestnut son of Fusaichi Pegasus burst forward to claim the lead. Gaze Unwavering come home another winner of a stakes race.

The Stewards Cup Juvenile was his next start. Gaze Unwavering shipped from Florida to New York, during the two weeks he had between those two races. An impressive field of fourteen was assembled for this race. Including Brave the Storm, the only horse to so far defeat Gaze Unwavering. Loki Masterpiece, an undefeated Grade 2, and two-time stakes winner headed the field. As well was the two-time Grade 2 winner, Charm’s Tribute, who’s only loss in his career went to Loki Masterpiece. The winner an undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Inglewood Futurity, was Chesapeake Bay. Another Grade 1 winner of the field was Here Comes Revenge, winner of the Hopeful Stakes whose lone loss in his career went to Chesapeake Bay. A talented field to say the least, Gaze Unwavering would have to run the race of his life to win it.

A two-year-old son of Fusaichi Pegasus would win the Grade 1 Stewards Cup Juvenile. The garland of flowers would be placed on the bay withers of Loki Masterpiece. Loki Masterpiece kept his undefeated streak, destroying Chesapeake Bay’s own streak. Second place would go to Charm’s Tribute. He finished in front of Chesapeake Bay. Fourth was Here Comes Revenge. Gaze Unwavering came home an impressive fifth. Loki Masterpiece would go on to be named Champion Two Year Old Colt.

Next year, Gaze Unwavering made his 3 year old debut a good one in the Grade 3, Hutcheson Stakes at Florida. The horse that finished right in front of him, Here Comes Revenge, was back to challenge. Training over the winter made the chestnut colt a new horse. He came home an easy winner, proving he is a real threat for the Louisville Derby. Here Comes Revenge finished second, with Promise Maker third.

Two weeks later, still in Florida, he went into the small four horse field for the Grade 1, Florida Derby. Just as his name suggested, you never took your eyes off the flashy chestnut colt with his chrome colored blaze. He overwhelmed the small field and romped home 7 ½ lengths in front of Dream Brightly. Here Comes Revenge finished a head behind for third, While Long Talk finished some 15 lengths back off of Gaze Unwavering.

Having just one week to ship and prepare for the Louisville Derby, Gaze Unwavering came in as one of the favorites. An undefeated Grade 1 winning filly, Attracting, was also entered. The favorite was the still undefeated Loki Masterpiece who was coming off a 7 ½ length romp in teh Arcadia Derby. Charm’s Tribute, came back from second in the Juvenile to win the Bluegrass Stakes. Your Wood Memorial winner, Star Player was also in the mix, just to mention 5 of the 11 horses.

As the colts went off in the race, all horses ran where they normally do. But turning for home, it was Loki Masterpiece to catch. Gaze Unwavering, who was far back was closing ground. If there would be enough time to catch him would be the question. With the wire coming ever closer, Gaze Unwavering made it the closest any horse at the finish would get to Loki Masterpiece. However, Gaze Unwavering came ¾ a length late. The derby was run in 1:59.90. Finishing the order was Attracting, Charm’s Tribute, and Star Player.

Skipping the Baltimore Crown, where Loki Masterpiece won by ½ a length over Charn’s Tribute and Dream Brightly. With more ground to make his late run, it was a real possibility that Gaze Unwavering may cross the wire first. It looked as if Charm’s Tribute may have weakened the undefeated champion at the right time for Gaze Unwavering to win.

The field of 5 began their 1 ½ mile journey in good fashion. Gaze Unwavering, settled last of the pack while his rival, Loki Masterpiece was up front. When Gaze Unwavering got going, his black silks with the blue slash across it, looked like a cape as he was flying to the wire. Loki Masterpiece had put 7 lengths in front of Marked Improvement in second, he looked like he may win the Triple Crown undefeated. Gaze Unwavering, had other plans. Planting himself in the history books he came home just in time to nip Loki Masterpiece at the end to win the Long Island Classic by a nose, handing Luki Masterpiece’s first defeat. Marked Improvement finished 7 ½ lengths back, just a head in front of Close Call. Elusive Star was 11 lengths behind that duo.

Just two weeks later in Canada, in the 1 ¼ mile Grade 1 Queen’s Derby, Conduit came home the winner. Conduit would go on and finish his career undefeated, a Hall of Famer, and Horse of the Year. That day though, Year 10, Week 8, Saturday morning, Conduit went home the winner by 1 ½ lengths.

Back in the USA, at Lafayette Downs, for the Grade 1 Super Derby, Gaze Unwavering ran like how he did in the Long Island Classic. Settling at the back of the pack, as usual Gaze Unwavering was later sent into high gear where in the end he reversed the tables by winning by 1 ¾ lengths. Behind him was multiple graded placed One to Remember. He used the Super Derby as his last prep for the Steward’s Cup Classic, which would be held at the Toronto Racecourse in Canada.

The win would go to Walkover, a gray stallion who would go to win over $7 million dollars in purses, while going into the Hall of Fame. Just a neck behind him was the black No Tears Here. No Tears here was the winner of the Woodward Handicap, and numerous other Grade 1 events. The Stewards Cup Classic was his career finale, and pushed his earnings to a little more than $6 million. Just 1 ½ length behind him was Loki Masterpiece, Gaze Unwavering came home fourth, after running a good race.

Gaze Unwavering seemed to run good races, everywhere but in Canada, or just not show up in the prestigious Stewards Cup races series. Heading into a four year old season Gaze Unwavering still had more to prove on the track.

His first start back was in the San Antonio Handicap. Gaze Unwavering sat far back as Marked Improvement ran away with the lead. Just when Gaze Unwavering was asked to go, he made a huge rally to come from dead last. Sprinting down the stretch, Gaze Unwavering proved to be a class higher than the seven other horses as he came home 5 lengths ahead of the nearest horse.

In UAE, the chestnut stallion faces his rival, Loki Masterpiece and Stewards Cup Classic victor, Walkover in the Desert World Cup, the purse being $6,000,000 and going the classic distance of 1 ¼ miles. Ready and full of run, Gaze Unwavering took his normal spot at the back of the pack.When the engine was turned on, the chestnut champion proved he should be listed among the best as he overpowered two future Hall of Famers to win the race by 1 length. Walkover would be second, 8 lengths ahead of Loki Masterpiece, in his career worst performance. That day, Gaze Unwavering took home $3.6 million.

Taking a four week break to return in the Whitney Handicap, Gaze Unwavering was in terrific form. From the moment he was approved to race to the moment he stepped into the gate, the race was his to lose. The horses he faced weren't in the same class, and he proved it coming home 5 lengths in front of One to Remember.

With four weeks to prepare for another Classic try, Gaze Unwavering entered the Woodward Handicap, at 1 ⅛ miles (unlike the 1 ¼ mile Whitney Handicap) as an overwhelming favorite. From last to first in one tremendous move, he romped home yet again to finish 5 ½ lengths ahead of Warcry Forever. So far he was 4 for 4 in his four year old season. With a classic win at the end would ensure his legacy as one of the best of his time.

In his career finale, he showed up not the horse he was in his recent romps. Conduit, the winner of the Queens Derby showed up and proved he was superior by winning by 2 ½ lengths. Loki Masterpiece ran a good race to finish a neck ahead over familiar rival, Walk Over. El Rival Decade would be 1 length ahead of Gaze Unwavering who crossed the wire fifth.

Gaze Unwavering retired with $7,525,000 in purse earnings. Racing for 3 years, he posted a record of 17 - 11 - 2 - 0. His off the board finishes were 2 fourths and 2 fifths. Although his career didn’t end as a champions should’ve he still proved to be one of the best. He ended up entering the Hall of Fame, rightfully so, as he won 6 Grade 1 races, over multiple Hall of Fame horses.

Not the best horse at stud, he still had stars in his progeny, which earned $13,784.900. Among his best were Derby Report ($1.5 million earner and Grade 1 stakes winner), Righteous ($3.4 million earner, multiple Grade 1 winner)

Reflecting on the past, it's hard not to mention Gaze Unwavering. Grade 1 winner at three and four, with two stakes win at two, he proved to be among the cream of his crop. Thanks for remembering the Hall of Famer Gaze Unwavering with me

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