Oliver's Twist (horse)
Encyclopedia
Oliver's Twist was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. A descendant of Star de Naskra, he was sired by Horatius by breeder Country Life Farm. Oliver's Twist was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his classic grade one runner-up finish closing on the rail in the 1995 Preakness Stakes
.
at Pimlico Race Course
. In the Tesio he beat a strong field of local horses and New York shippers to prove he belonged in good company.
Boniface and owner Charles Oliver decided to take the shot of a lifetime in an American Classic. Oliver's Twist was entered into the 1995 Preakness Stakes to take on an all-star field of eleven stakes winners but was listed as the third longest shot in the field at post time at 12-1 ahead of only Pana Brass and Itron. Four of the five top Derby finishers came back to run in the Preakness and as expected Thunder Gulch
, Tejano Run
, Timber Country
and Mecke took most of the public support at the windows. As the Preakness began, speedster Star Standard
shot to lead as expected followed by Mystery Storm and Talkin Man
. Oliver's Twist saved ground along the rail and settled in nicely at fifth along with the flight of stalkers behind the leaders that included Thunder Gulch, Timber Country and Tejano Run. Oliver's Twist and Thunder Gulch encountered some traffic while Timber Country looped the field on the outside going around the far turn. Jockey Alberto Delgado
made a bold move and split the leaders charging between them with no more than a foot on each side. Oliver's Twist started in his next gear as he cleared traffic and engaged the Derby winner Thunder Gulch in a head to head battle. By that time Timber Country was proving that he was fastest of them all as he went on to win the Preakness by 1-1/2 lengths. Oliver's Twist outdueled Thunder Gulch for place spot and his share of $100,000 second place prize money.
In 2006 and 2007, Oliver's Twist was the state of Colorado Leading sire in both progeny earnings and number of winners.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. A descendant of Star de Naskra, he was sired by Horatius by breeder Country Life Farm. Oliver's Twist was a multiple graded stakes winner but will be remembered most for his classic grade one runner-up finish closing on the rail in the 1995 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
.
Two year-old season
Oliver's Twist was steady learning colt at age two. He broke his maiden during his third start in the summer of 1994. He moved on to allowance company and won later that summer and then his trainer opted to run him against Maryland-bred stakes company in the autumn. Oliver's Twist not only ran at Laurel Park Racecourse in a two year old stakes race but won the Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes going away.Three year-old season
Trained by local Marylander J. William Boniface, Oliver's Twist won three of four races in the spring of his sophomore season. After being freshened during the winter Oliver's Twist came back and won an allowance race. He then won the Rollicking Stakes at Laurel Park. His next stop was what locals in Maryland call the "Preakness Trial" the grade three Federico Tesio StakesFederico Tesio Stakes
The Federico Tesio Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Contested over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt, it is open to three-year-olds horses....
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
. In the Tesio he beat a strong field of local horses and New York shippers to prove he belonged in good company.
Boniface and owner Charles Oliver decided to take the shot of a lifetime in an American Classic. Oliver's Twist was entered into the 1995 Preakness Stakes to take on an all-star field of eleven stakes winners but was listed as the third longest shot in the field at post time at 12-1 ahead of only Pana Brass and Itron. Four of the five top Derby finishers came back to run in the Preakness and as expected Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch
Thunder Gulch is a Champion American thoroughbred racehorse who left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995 and went on to win the Kentucky Derby in 2:01.2 from post 16. He was ridden by jockey Gary Stevens. D...
, Tejano Run
Tejano Run
Tejano Run is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Catesby W.Clay at his Runnymede Farm , he was purchased and raced by Roy K. Monroe and his wife, Joyce....
, Timber Country
Timber Country
Timber Country is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the first horse to ever win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile then go on to win one of the U.S. Triple Crown races for three-year-olds....
and Mecke took most of the public support at the windows. As the Preakness began, speedster Star Standard
Star Standard
Star Standard is a millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky by Highclere, Inc. & Louis Roussel III and raced under the William Condren banner as his owner. He was sired by top stallion Risen Star, who in turn was a son of the great Secretariat...
shot to lead as expected followed by Mystery Storm and Talkin Man
Talkin Man
Talkin Man is a Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ontario by two of that country's leading owner/breeders, Arthur and Helen Stollery's Angus Glen Farm and Bud Willmot's Kinghaven Farms....
. Oliver's Twist saved ground along the rail and settled in nicely at fifth along with the flight of stalkers behind the leaders that included Thunder Gulch, Timber Country and Tejano Run. Oliver's Twist and Thunder Gulch encountered some traffic while Timber Country looped the field on the outside going around the far turn. Jockey Alberto Delgado
Alberto Delgado
Alberto Delgado y Pérez is a Cuban soccer player. As of 2005, he plays as a forward for Sevilla FC Puerto Rico of the Puerto Rico Soccer League.-Defection to the United States:...
made a bold move and split the leaders charging between them with no more than a foot on each side. Oliver's Twist started in his next gear as he cleared traffic and engaged the Derby winner Thunder Gulch in a head to head battle. By that time Timber Country was proving that he was fastest of them all as he went on to win the Preakness by 1-1/2 lengths. Oliver's Twist outdueled Thunder Gulch for place spot and his share of $100,000 second place prize money.
Retirement
Oliver's Twist is standing at Menoken Farms in Montrose, Colorado. http://www.menokenfarms.com/In 2006 and 2007, Oliver's Twist was the state of Colorado Leading sire in both progeny earnings and number of winners.