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Hall of Fame - Wishing Starfire
Original article written by Nathan Klein posted 3 years 0 weeks agoThere are a couple of great underdog stories. But one of the best has to be Wishing Starfire. She was born to a first-time mare in Swept Away, who raced six times and never won earning 200 dollars on the track. Her father was Birthday Candles a fan favorite on the track for his huge win in the Steward's Cup Turf Mile and an emotional farewell victory in a $50,000 allowance. But as a stud he proved uneventful producing a total of 42 foals over the coarse 14 breeding seasons.
With not so remarkable breeding the newborn was immediately sold from Faith Powers to Joey Folsom for $1,400. She proved barely worth that price tag running in turf sprint and mile races. She stayed midpack for the first part but when it came time to make a move she had nothing left and fell to the back of the pack. She had no rally late game and ended up barely breaking even on her already pitiful price tag earning $5,000 over 3 years of racing.
She would be sold again at the start of her 5-year-old season for just $500 to Channi Ruzzo. But Channi would keep her and give her a chance. She raced in a claiming Steeplechase to see if that would be her calling in racing. She stayed midpack early but instead of fading like she had before she came with a strong rally moving between horses and opening up after a mistake on the last jump. She won by 2 and 3/4 lengths and went straight into stakes company. She didn't win but proved successful with a second and a third. But in her last start, she managed a graded stakes victory in the Bejilla. She simply moved between horses again and only needed a mild drive as she crossed the line first by 1 and 1/2 lengths.
At age 6 she only got better, running in the toughest Steeplechase races. It was a hard transition at first finishing fourth but thrived in Britain taking the Grade 1 Chesire Moon Chase by 2 lengths. Then she added the Tough Guy Event. Lastly, she added a second-place finish in the Steward's Cup Steeplechase behind the former Grade 1 turf router and duel Grade 1 Steeplechaser Knighted. The bargain continued to be successful the following year as spliced in-between mediocre performances in the Grand Empire Trial and the Dead Poets Challenge she took 2 straight Grade 1's. Repeating the Cheshire Gold Cup and adding the Yankee Hurdle. But those proved her final wins. She would retire after a sixth in the Steward's Cup Steeplechase.
Already the 500 dollar mare was a triple Grade 1 winner and an earner of $738,500. But she became truly priceless as a broodmare. Producing not 1 but 2 different Hall Of Fame Steeplechasers that have influenced the bloodlines of many other champs. Her highest earning son Wishing On Stars was a multiple Grade 1 winner and Steward's Cup Steeplechase winner. As well as an earner of Older Male Steeplechaser in Year 34. Later he would be a great sire producing Grade 1 winners Natural Cowboy and Winning On Perfect.
Her best-earning daughter was Mommy's Little Angel who had an illustrious career that lasted 39 starts. In her final career start the 8-year-old dual Grade 1 winner managed her greatest win taking the Steward's Cup Steeplechase. She would go on to produce 2 millionaires and Steward's Cup winners Mac's Angel and Courageous Angel. The legacy continues after that but it is still always amazing to think that all these champions started from a $500 mare. Truly showing how someones trash is another one's treasure.