Hall of Fame - The Scarlet Nite

Original article written by Greentree Racing posted 16 years 2 weeks ago

One night, fourteen years ago, on a farm in Kentucky, the black mare was restless and heavy with foal from Tejano Causeway. It was early evening and the sky was still crimson with the glow of the setting sun. Rydrew Princess was in a large foaling stall and paced in it. She finally lay down with a groan and started her labor. The watchful eyes of the foaling manager were concerned. This was the young mare’s first foal. “She’s taking a long time”, he said to the intern next to him, “wish the on call vet would get here, go call him again”. The intern dutifully left to call.

After a few more minutes though, Rydrew gave one last big push, and a sleek black colt joined the world. He was glistening in the straw and Rydrew got up and began to clean him. The foaling manager grabbed a clean towel and began to help her. “You’re going to be a big ‘un”, he said to the colt. “You got them long legs to run”. His breeder and owner Brianna McKenzie had come to the barn. She looked up at the sunset sky with a silent thanks for a healthy foal, and named him “The Scarlet Nite” after her favorite brilliant harness racer, Scarlet Knight.

Brianna had high hopes for this foal as although Rydrew was an unproven broodmare at this time, her dam had been a good producer. This was sire Tejano Causeway’s first crop, but he was one of Giant’s Causeway’s best sons.

The colt’s first six months were uneventful, and he grew taller and taller. By the time he was six months old, all knew his height would be no problem, as he romped, ran and played with the other weanlings, showing much agility even though he towered over the other colts.

But time flew and pretty soon it was time for the first two year old race. The Scarlet Nite was shipped to Florida for his first race on turf at six furlongs. Brianna remembers being nervous as her horse was bred to run long distances. But the nervousness evaporated to awe as The Scarlet Nite crushed the field by 17 ½ lengths, in 1:08 flat! Brianna knew she had a champion!

Thus, The Scarlet Nite began his two year old Turf Triple Crown road.

First up was the Favorite Trick Stakes. Three other colts showed up, but to no avail. The Scarlet Nite took it by five lengths.

With very little rest, one week later he entered the Commitisize Stakes. Again, three other colts showed up: On Raised Tiers, a future millionaire son of Storm Cat and owned by Jon Xett; The Shining II owned by Ara Davies, and Fortune Hunter owned by Robin Tan. With dogged determination born of a will to win, The Scarlet Nite still won by ¾ length over On Raised Tiers.

Yet again one week later, on the tough triple crown trail, he was entered in the G1 Magellan Stakes, the last leg. This time he was against Derby Dancer’s two best sons: Sense of Humor and Jade Sword (future Australian Champion Older Horse), both fresher than The Scarlet Nite. Still he prevailed, and won by 2 ½ lengths.

Brianna had a two year old turf triple crown winner! No one had done it since Punishment, six years earlier. The Scarlet Nite returned to the farm for a well deserved rest. When he arrived, the foaling manager saw him, and winked at him. “Knew you were the one”, he said.

After a nine week layoff, The Scarlet Nite eased into his three year old season, in a one mile classified allowance which included older horses. He overwhelmed the field by 7 ½ lengths.

His next race was at 1 ¼ miles on the turf in the G1 Eddie Read Handicap for three year olds. He would again face Sense of Humor, but he would be no match for The Scarlet Nite, as he won over Sense of Humor by seven lengths in a time of 1:59 flat!

By now The Scarlet Nite was the talk of the horse racing media. Other thoroughbred owners were getting a little gun shy and only five horses showed up to meet the Scarlet Nite two weeks later in the 1 ¼ mile G3 Sky Classic Handicap. If his win wasn’t impressive enough in the Eddie Read, two weeks later The Scarlet Nite won this one, in a time of 1:58.40 with a margin of eight lengths!

With wins and times like these, the next jewel to race was the G1 Breeder’s Cup Turf at 1 ½ miles three weeks later. Seven horses showed up to challenge The Scarlet Nite. The field included notables: one of Tulloch’s best sons Consolation Prize (a future Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner); Tilt A Whirl’s best son Bravo (future European Champion Older Horse), and Sense of Humor again.

The race was no problem as The Scarlet Nite bided his time in the back of the pack. As was typical for him, he waited until the final 1/8 mile before running away by three lengths for the win. With that, he got a well deserved rest until his four year old season was to start.

Seven weeks later, the racing world saw him make the first appearance of his four year old year in the G1 Pan American Handicap. Seven horses went to the post, and again Sense of Humor showed up for a third try against The Scarlet Nite. But it would be a futile attempt as The Scarlet Nite as usual, waited on the rail in the back, then exploded through a hole at the 1/8 pole and drew away to win by 3.

By now racing fans were clamoring for a match race between Lokite Magic and The Scarlet Nite. Lokite Magic, owned by Isabella Penzance, was turf superstar in his own right, and had just won the Breeder’s Cup Mile Turf against the likes of Storm of Applause, and Vapor. Lokite had also beaten Sense of Humor and Bravo as well. But, he had not raced against The Scarlet Nite yet.

So two weeks after the Pan American, Long Island Park was pandemonium! Tens of thousands of fans showed up to witness this 1 ¼ mile match race between the two heavyweights of the turf that year. Again in nearly record breaking time, The Scarlet Nite drew away by 1 ¾ lengths for the win in 1:59.09.

Jon Xett, the owner the of three time vanquished Sense of Humor, was at Long Island Park that day and watched the race. Although he was impressed by The Scarlet Nite, he was still not convinced the horse was unbeatable. And that year Xett had a mighty fast dirt sprinter four year old named Satelite, winner of the Steward’s Cup Sprint, the season before. Xett was well aware of The Scarlet Nite’s first race, the six furlong romp in 1:08, but he thought his sprinter was faster, and would even run Satelite for the first time on turf. He thumbed his racing program thoughtfully, and decided to challenge Brianna McKenzie to a match race at 6 ½ furlongs on turf. They would call it “The Epitome of Speed”.

So three weeks later on the west coast this time at Arcadia Park, Satelite and The Scarlet Nite went to the post. Eyes were riveted on the horses. Could The Scarlet Night win at all distances against the best? Could Satelite win on turf? Satelite was on his toes, dancing around his lead pony in the post parade. The Scarlet Nite was cool and elegant as ever, his black coat shining in the sun so deeply, that the black was almost a midnight blue.

They load quickly into the gate, and then they’re off! Satelite springs to the lead first and takes the rail. The Scarlet Nite is right there with him though, his long legs carrying him one stride for Satelite’s every two. At one furlong The Scarlet Nite pulls a length ahead and settles on the rail, his favorite place. Satelite angrily puts his ears back and digs in, pulling abreast of The Scarlet Nite, his grey body a blur, his legs flying! They are nose to nose, neither giving an inch, two great hearts pounding down the stretch and the crowd is roaring! They cross the line and it’s a photo finish. Satelite wins by a nose!

This was The Scarlet Nite’s only loss, but it took a horse like Satelite to do it. Maybe it was just a head bob? The racing public never found out as the great Satelite retired after that race.

As a swan song for his legion of racing fans, The Scarlet Nite, went for one more win in the mile Tulloch Stakes. With not much to challenge him anymore, he cantered home to a fifteen length win.

In retirement, The Scarlet Nite was no less stellar, siring two millionaires in his first crop, Mite Be Sunny, and Australian Champion Three Year Old Filly/ Horse of the Year/ Champion Older Mare, Sai Yeh. Sai Yeh is now the dam of multimillionaires Monaachi, The Star Man, and The Wilding, and she currently has over 12 million in progeny earnings.

Demonstrating he sires precocity, his colt Lionize won the Steward’s Cup Juvenile Turf.

The Scarlet Nite was pensioned two seasons ago with progeny earnings of over 23 million. He has done everything one could wish for: stellar on the track, and a distinguished breeding career.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Year 22.

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