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In The Hall of Fame: Wonder

Original article written by Grace Moon posted 2 years 1 week ago

Wonder was a steward bred mare who sold for a bargain five thousand. She was by Now who also produced champion older male Then. Wonder was by steward’s cup classic winner Five Circles who also sired South American champion Chretiens.

Wonder lost her first two starts both at Futurity Park, Florida by a combined six lengths, but both fillies she lost too were future stakes winners. A change of scenery brought some much desired results, at Long Island Park she went clear by three lengths. At Cincinnati Park, Ohio in the Bassinet stakes, she bested Bright and Shiny by half a length. Losing the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Fillies at Oceanside racetrack, California to Fiery Sunset, coming in third Wonder ended her first season with a record of two wins from five starts.

Wonder improved at three, running the competition of their heels in the ungraded Aventura stakes at Sunshine Park, Florida, by over eight lengths. In the Arkansas Derby at Hot Springs Park, Arkansas, Wonder bested Left Behind by half a length. In the Louisville Derby, Wonder lined up against two time grade three winner Been Worthwhile who would go on later to win the Queen’s Derby, grade one Louisiana derby winner Commodore who would go on to win the Desert mile later in his career, Delta Jackpot winner Coup D’etat, undefeated three time grade one winner Empire who would later win the Woodward, Illinois derby winner Equator, stakes winner and grade one placed Guardian, Arizona derby winner Gun Hill who would later win the Desert World Cup, Steward’s cup Juvenile winner Image, Arcadia derby winner Kiddo, stakes winner Left Behind who would later win the Steward’s cup dirt mile, grade one winner Legacy, fellow grade one winning filly Quiet Excellence, Inglewood Futurity winner Thejoyinforgetting, and graded stakes winner White Shadows. Wonder had to settle for third, a quarter of a length behind Empire and a nose in front of Kiddo.

Not one to be discouraged, Wonder went for it again in the Baltimore Crown, at Baltimore racecourse, giving Empire a run for the money, only bested by half a length with her head in front of the great California. In the Woodbine Oaks at Toronto Racecourse, Canada, Wonder got back to her winning ways, besting millionaire mare Part of My Heart by four lengths. In the Steward’s cup distaff at Sunshine park, Florida, Wonder lined up with grade one winning filly Beatofmyheart who coming into the Distaff had been defeated just once, grade one winner Colors Bright, two time grade one winner Everything Right, Louisville oaks winner Farewellinthedark, Louisville oaks winner Laughterintherain, grade one winning juvenile Loki Empire, multiple graded stakes winner My One, three time grade one winner Quote Excellence, impressive maiden winner Realistic Dreams, and graded stakes winner Wined and Dined. Farewellinthedark went willingly to the wire a half length ahead of Wonder, who nosed Laughterintherain into third. Interestingly enough of the elven runners, four went on to win a steward’s cup race later. Wonder ended her three year old season with three wins from six starts, and one and a half million in earnings. She was honored as the North American champion three year old filly.

On her four year old debut at Hot Springs park, Arkansas, Wonder stormed away by six lengths in the grade one Oaklawn park handicap. In the Baltimore Special, at Baltimore racecourse, Maryland, Wonder got revenge on Empire, besting the Baltimore Crown winner by half a length, the same margin he got her by last year in the Baltimore Crown. Lokite Tragedy was a very distant third. Wonder turned in an uncharacteristic run in the Stephen Foster Handicap, at Louisville downs, Kentucky finishing an unthreatening fourth. At Wilmington park, Delaware, Wonder returned to her winning habits, powering home by two lengths, over Part of My Heart. In her final start Wonder lined up with Louisville derby runner up Assassin, old classic winning rival California, grade one winner Colossal, top juvenile Epic, Desert world cup winner Gun Hill, Midsummer classic winner Kiddo, Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Majesty, and Long Island classic winner Pillar of Strength. Six runners Assassin, California, Colossal, Gun Hill, Majesty, and Wonder were coming in off of wins, Epic had won once in his past three starts, Kiddo he’d won two of his last three both in impressive fashion, and Pillar of Strength had been winless for the past year. Wonder finished a tired, well beaten third a neck over Kiddo as the Long Island classic winners duked it out for first. Pillar of Strength won over California.

Wonder’s first foal More by Fighter Jet was a three time grade one winner who produced millionaire Boann. Stakes winner Most was by Giacomo and sired Desert mile The Mostest Horse. Her third foal, a dark bay colt by Loki Dynasty, named Awake As I Am was something special, an undefeated triple crown winner who sired champion You Are I Am among many other good runners. Djembe, a grade one winner was by Throne. Steward’s cup distaff winner Asleep As I Am was a full sister to Awake As I Am, Asleep As I Am also produced steward’s cup classic winner Ice and Fire. Midsummer oaks winner All Sleep Well by Saga, produced North American champion two year old female All Is Well. Millionaire Awakeandwonderful was by California, and is best remembered as the sire of North American champion older female Demostrative. Four time grade one winner Sound Asleep was by Tot Ziens and produced millionaire North American champion older female In Nocte Consilium.

As You Sleep by Braveheart, was a three time grade two winner. Who I Am by Something Better, won the Desert World cup and is the damsire North American horse of the year Rambunctious Too. Multiple stakes winner Sleep Soundly produced Louisville derby winner Doc Halladay, Stay Inside by Sun Raider was denied the Louisville derby by half a length. And Wonder’s last foal Sleep to Dream won the steward’s cup juvenile fillies winner and produced hall of fame miler All of Time.


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