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Prophet Over Persevere in the Steward's Cup Classic
Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 2 weeks agoThe racing industry woke up to showery weather on the second day of Steward Cup racing but that bothered the powerful Prophet not a bit as he let it rip in the long stretch at Seattle Downs and captured a thrilling $4 million Grade I Steward’s Cup Classic by ¾ of a length over hard charging Persevere. Ridden by regular rider Walter Jamison, the dark bay horse finished the 1 ¼ miles on the dirt oval in 1:59.30.
Prophet’s career began after owner Amy Schmidt brought him for $2.5 million at auction as a two year old in training. He’s by the stalwart stallion East whose offspring have taken many races including two jewels in the American Triple Crown through his talented three year old Persevere. Heart Warming Gray by the very influential Giacomo produced Prophet as her third foal. Currently he remains her most successful though Wizard (by Epic) is making his presence felt going into his sophomore campaign with two stakes wins.
However, Prophet started attracting attention during his first workout as a juvenile earlier in the season when he amply broke 58 seconds for five furlongs on the dirt. He placed fourth in his debut start at a mile and then went to run in the mud in Brazil and broke his maiden in excellent form. He won his next start and then faced off against a talented field in the Steward’s Cup Juvenile. Prophet kicked it in gear late in the race but another horse, Redwood came from further back and beat him to the finish line by a ¼ length.
Still the following year at three, Prophet tried his luck on the road towards the Triple Crown races beginning with a second place finish behind Believe the Hype in the Texan Derby. He followed that with a win in the New Orleans Derby and was looking pretty hot. But as often proves to be the case, the Louisville Derby proved to be a very challenging race and in this race, Stay Awake tried to run away with it only to be collared by Believe the Hype at the wire. Prophet never really factored in this intense competition finishing in sixth place with his stretch run through the field of 15 starters.
He opted out of the rest of the Triple Crown and instead went into the Captain Hook Stakes finishing second there. He turned the tables on Warned and also defeated Redwood in the Garden State Invitational before finishing third in a contentious race called the Long Island Gold Cup won by Thriller over Believe the Hype who both had wins in the Baltimore Crown in common.
Then came the dramatic Steward’s Cup Classic where Stay Awake overcame his earlier bridesmaid status and proved to be victorious. Prophet finished third behind him and Believe the Hype.
At four, he won the Jet-Ski Handicap before finishing third in the Desert World Cup won by Stay Awake. He won two more stakes in three starts after that including the Long Island Gold Cup by a head over Echelon. Two weeks later, he lined up with a luscious field of star performers including winners of the Triple Crown races in Persevere and Whitney as well as Stay Awake who was going for a repeat win and others like Pacific Classic, Prestige and The Awakening.
The crowds of over 300,000 people packed the venue and made sure they bought their tickets and did their business so they wouldn’t miss the opportunity to witness the grand event.
The gates opened and out came Stay Awake to stake his claim as the race’s early leader. The Awakening and The Hierarchy tried to match him while Prophet sat cool as can be in fifth place, with Persevere parked further in the rear in 11th. Stay Awake used the duration of the backstretch run to flow further ahead to lead the next horse, still The Awakening by two lengths. Prophet slipped into the sixth spot while Persevere didn’t budge his position awaiting his own opportunity to shine.
As they hit the turn, Stay Awake held onto his lead over The Awakening but Prophet began to stretch his legs out and accelerate into the third spot quickly and surely. And as they traveled down the stretch in a chorus of thundering hooves, Prophet responded to Jamison’s urgings and seized the lead all the way through the wire. Persevere flew down the stretch in his stirring late rush and this bay colt took the second spot by a head over The Awakening while Stay Awake finished fourth.
The winner was quite joyful as he trotted into the winner’s circle for a lot of accolades and flashing bulbs. He then shipped off to Peyto East in New Jersey to stand stud under new owner, Larry Burndorf where he’s already attracted 58 mares.