Presious Passion
Encyclopedia
Presious Passion is a multiple Grade I
winning Thoroughbred
racehorse. Bred in the United States
, he is a gelded son of multiple Grade I winner Royal Anthem and the unraced mare, Princesa's Passion, who comes from an extended family of stakes winning horses. Presious Passion's career has included wins in the United Nations Stakes (twice) and the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes and a second place finish in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf
. Presious Passion was one of three Eclipse Award finalists for older turf horse in 2009, losing to Gio Ponti (horse)
.
The 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Classic earned him international respect. He opened up ten lengths and set fractions of 45 flat for the half mile and 1:09 1/5 for three quarters of a mile, unusually fast for a mile and a half race. In a determined effort he fought the defending champion Conduit
to the finish and grudgingly gave up a half a length. Many believe this too be one of his finest moments even though it was a losing one. American turf writer Steve Haskin
has described this as one of the best losing performances in Breeders' Cup history.
Presious Passion is considered exceptional for this style of running. Longer turf races are often won in a final dash in which closing speed is more important than speed at the beginning of a race. Presious Passion, however, has become well known for his speed from the gate. According to trainer Mary Hartmann and regular rider Elvis Trujillo
, Presious Passion refuses to rate and so they have developed the tactic of letting him run his own race. He often distances himself from the field by up to 20 lengths, as he did in the 2009 United Nations, and then fights in the stretch, either tiring from his early efforts or prevailing. Because of his exciting and unpredictable style, he has developed a strong fan base of horseracing fans who enjoy his gritty performances on the track. One of his greatest fans is his trainer, Mary Hartmann, who has voiced praise of his unwillingness to lose, his gutsy stretch runs, and his winning efforts saying, "He is not a cheap suitcase. He doesn't fold."
Presious Passion competed in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic
(UAE-I) on March 27 in Dubai
, finishing last. Since then, he has failed to return to his 2009 form, losing 3 straight races. Some have attributed his 2010 form to the so-called "Dubai Bounce", the name given to the tendency for American thoroughbreds to regress in form due to the stress of traveling to and from the spring Dubai World Cup
championship races at Meydan Racecourse
. Others have suggested that he is no longer able to carry his speed as well as in previous years.
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winning 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. Bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he is a gelded son of multiple Grade I winner Royal Anthem and the unraced mare, Princesa's Passion, who comes from an extended family of stakes winning horses. Presious Passion's career has included wins in the United Nations Stakes (twice) and the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes and a second place finish in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
. Presious Passion was one of three Eclipse Award finalists for older turf horse in 2009, losing to Gio Ponti (horse)
Gio Ponti (horse)
Gio Ponti is a United States race horse and a specialist on the turf course. He was sired by Tale of the Cat, a son of Storm Cat, out of the stakes-placed Alydar mare Chipeta Springs, making him half-brother to stakes-winner Fisher Pond...
.
The 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Classic earned him international respect. He opened up ten lengths and set fractions of 45 flat for the half mile and 1:09 1/5 for three quarters of a mile, unusually fast for a mile and a half race. In a determined effort he fought the defending champion Conduit
Conduit (horse)
Conduit is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. In a career that lasted from August 2007 to November 2009 he won seven of his fifteen starts, including four at Group One/Grade I level....
to the finish and grudgingly gave up a half a length. Many believe this too be one of his finest moments even though it was a losing one. American turf writer Steve Haskin
Steve Haskin
Steve Haskin is an award-winning American horse racing journalist and author.A former Wall Street employee, Haskin was entranced by the "Sport of Kings"...
has described this as one of the best losing performances in Breeders' Cup history.
Presious Passion is considered exceptional for this style of running. Longer turf races are often won in a final dash in which closing speed is more important than speed at the beginning of a race. Presious Passion, however, has become well known for his speed from the gate. According to trainer Mary Hartmann and regular rider Elvis Trujillo
Elvis Trujillo
Elvis Raúl Trujillo is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing best known for riding Maryfield to victory in the 2007 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint which that year was his big break. He is one of two jockeys in American racing whose mother was an Elvis Presley fan and who named their...
, Presious Passion refuses to rate and so they have developed the tactic of letting him run his own race. He often distances himself from the field by up to 20 lengths, as he did in the 2009 United Nations, and then fights in the stretch, either tiring from his early efforts or prevailing. Because of his exciting and unpredictable style, he has developed a strong fan base of horseracing fans who enjoy his gritty performances on the track. One of his greatest fans is his trainer, Mary Hartmann, who has voiced praise of his unwillingness to lose, his gutsy stretch runs, and his winning efforts saying, "He is not a cheap suitcase. He doesn't fold."
Presious Passion competed in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic
Dubai Sheema Classic
The Dubai Sheema Classic is a Group 1 flat horse race in the United Arab Emirates open to thoroughbreds which are four-years-old or above. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres on the turf track at Meydan Racecourse, Dubai, and it takes place annually during the Dubai World Cup Night in...
(UAE-I) on March 27 in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, finishing last. Since then, he has failed to return to his 2009 form, losing 3 straight races. Some have attributed his 2010 form to the so-called "Dubai Bounce", the name given to the tendency for American thoroughbreds to regress in form due to the stress of traveling to and from the spring Dubai World Cup
Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 and from 2010 at the Meydan Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
championship races at Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse
Meydan Racecourse is able to accommodate over 60,000 spectators in a 1 mile long grandstand. When not used for races it will serve as a business and conference integrated facility. A horse racing museum and gallery are also planned...
. Others have suggested that he is no longer able to carry his speed as well as in previous years.