Take Control (horse)
Encyclopedia
Take Control
Take Control is a son of two Horses of the Year: A.P. Indy and Azeri.. In September, Azeri's A.P. Indy yearling colt, Vallenzeri (previous name), was bought back by the trust for a Keeneland-record $7.7 million. Take Control was bought by Kaleem Shah, CEO of CALNET, from the Keenland 2 year old in Training Sale in 2009.
He is set to begin racing as prepared by Bob Baffert
.
to Valentine's Day (the day he was born), "allen" referencing Allen Paulson and "zeri" referencing his mother the great Azeri. He was highly
thought off as a weanling and was consigned to the yearling sale where he was bought back for $7.7 Million by his previous owners the
Allen Paulson trust. Later he was sold in at the Keeneland 2 year old in Training Sale to Kaleem Shah, CEO of Calnet.
and the G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap
, who was a son of the very important sire Mr. Prospector
. She is the only starter out of the Ahonoora mare Zodiac Miss. She is also out of the family of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Mile
winner: the French horse Silic. Zodiac Miss was bred in Australia by John Messara's Arrowfield Stud. Prominent Australian bloodstock agents Brian King & James Bester, together with Californian based agent Denny Boultinghouse, recommended and sold Zodiac Miss to Paulson, and the filly was subsequently shipped to the U.S.A. to race there for her new owner. At the end of her racing career, Allen Paulson sent Zodiac Miss to the breeding shed.
Paulson was an aerospace magnate (Gulfstream Aerospace) whose many global investments included racehorses, casinos and oil exploration. Paulson also bred and raced Cigar, who currently stands at #2 on the North American All-Time Money Earners' list.
Azeri was purchased for $110,000 at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Jonabell Farm and trained by Laura de Seroux, one of the few women trainers in a man's world. Of her greatest horse, Seroux said, "She didn't let anyone down, and she did it in great style. She's simply the fastest filly in the world now. You can't catch her early, and you can't catch her late."
Allen Paulson died before he knew what Azeri would turn out to be, but his son Michael took over his father's role in her racing life.
Out of 24 starts, she won 17 and placed in 4. When she was awarded the Eclipse Award
for Horse of the Year, she was only the third female to win since the voting began in 1971, 35 years ago as of 2006. The other two female winners were All Along
in 1983 and Lady's Secret
in 1986. Both of these had defeated males, though Azeri did not.
Azeri
retired from racing in December 2004 as the US richest female money earner, but is now the second highest female money earner in North America with $4,079,820 (succeeding her is Zenyatta with $5,474,580 in 2009).
In her first attempt at breeding in Kentucky, she proved barren to Storm Cat for 2005 but successfully delivered a chestnut colt by A.P. Indy on February 14, 2007. This colt, initially named Vallenzeri, was renamed Take Control. He is the rare product of two Horses of the Year.
and out of the mare Weekend Surprise
, who herself was sired by another Triple Crown winner: Secretariat. He was the top-priced yearling of 1990 at $2.9 million.
Trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, A.P. Indy raced in 1991 and 1992. As a two-year old, after initially losing his first race and subsequently having a minor surgery (he had an undescended testicle removed), he reeled off successive victories in a maiden race, an allowance, and then the Grade I Hollywood Futurity. At three, he continued his winning streak with successive victories in the Grade II San Rafael Stakes and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby before being scratched from the Kentucky Derby on the morning of the race. He was then pointed towards the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes and the Grade I Belmont Stakes, of which he won both races. After a brief rest over the summer, he ran fourth in the Molson Million, and then ran a credible third in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup (after a horrible stumble at the break that caused him to completely lose touch with the remaining horses). He then rebounded to easily win the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, in a hand ride, over a star-studded field of the top horses in training from around the world. In early 1993 he was voted the Eclipse Awards for the 1992 Horse of the Year and Champion three year old. In his career he had 11 starts, winning 8 and showing in one, earning a total of $2,979,815.
A.P. Indy was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 2000.
Since being retired to stud, he has sired hundreds of winning Thoroughbreds. Through 2007, he has sired 110 stakes winners. In 2005 alone he sired 16 stakes winners. Among his progency are Sweet Symphony, Suave
, Congrats, 2003 U.S. Horse of the Year Mineshaft
, Golden Missile
, and Aptitude
. In 2006 he sired Preakness Stakes
winner Bernardini
. He is also the sire of history-making 2007 Belmont Stakes
winner Rags to Riches
, the first filly to win that race in over a century. In 2009, his son, Eye of the Leopard
won Canada's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate
.
As a broodmare sire, mares A.P. Indy has sired have produced 14 more stakes winners. He currently stands in stud at Lane's End Farm, where he commands $250,000 for a single live cover breeding.
, running over one mile. The chestnut colt rallied from last in his debut race on December 30,2009 earning $27,000 for the win. Take Control is owned by Kaleem Shah, CEO of CALNET.
He was then sidelined shortly after with a front shin injury and pointed towards a summer campaign. As of June 25 Take control has had two reported works 3f and 4f over synthetic in California. In an early interview, Trainer Bob Baffert had said he was pointing him towards Saratoga's Travers.
Throughout 2010 Take Control and for much of 2011, Take Control has been attempting a comeback to racing - however shin issues have plagued
his comeback to racing. The owner of Take Control, Kaleem Shah has shown extra ordinary patience in letting the horse develop at his own pace
without pushing him at anytime
Take Control is a son of two Horses of the Year: A.P. Indy and Azeri.. In September, Azeri's A.P. Indy yearling colt, Vallenzeri (previous name), was bought back by the trust for a Keeneland-record $7.7 million. Take Control was bought by Kaleem Shah, CEO of CALNET, from the Keenland 2 year old in Training Sale in 2009.
He is set to begin racing as prepared by Bob Baffert
Bob Baffert
Robert A. "Bob" Baffert is an American horse owner and trainer, whose horses have won three Kentucky Derbies, five Preakness Stakes, one Belmont Stakes and two Kentucky Oaks. He graduated from the University of Arizona's with a Bachelor of Science degree. -Early career:Bob Baffert began his...
.
Breeding and Early Life
Take Control was born on February 14, 1007 at Hill N Dale Farm in Lexington, KY. He was previously named Vallenzeri - with the "V" referenceto Valentine's Day (the day he was born), "allen" referencing Allen Paulson and "zeri" referencing his mother the great Azeri. He was highly
thought off as a weanling and was consigned to the yearling sale where he was bought back for $7.7 Million by his previous owners the
Allen Paulson trust. Later he was sold in at the Keeneland 2 year old in Training Sale to Kaleem Shah, CEO of Calnet.
Dam
Azeri (foaled 1998 in Versailles, Kentucky) is a Thoroughbred racehorse. She was sired by Jade Hunter, a winner of the Grade 1 Donn HandicapDonn Handicap
The Donn Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late January/early February at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.The race is named after the Donn family, who for many years owned and operated the racetrack....
and the G1 Gulfstream Park Handicap
Gulfstream Park Handicap
The Gulfstream Park Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt...
, who was a son of the very important sire Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector
Mr. Prospector was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Kentucky, whose descendants have been dominant in the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. He won half of his 14 career races.-Background:...
. She is the only starter out of the Ahonoora mare Zodiac Miss. She is also out of the family of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Mile
Breeders' Cup Mile
The Breeders' Cup Mile is a Grade 1 Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up, run on a grass course. It has been conducted annually as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships since the event's inception in 1984...
winner: the French horse Silic. Zodiac Miss was bred in Australia by John Messara's Arrowfield Stud. Prominent Australian bloodstock agents Brian King & James Bester, together with Californian based agent Denny Boultinghouse, recommended and sold Zodiac Miss to Paulson, and the filly was subsequently shipped to the U.S.A. to race there for her new owner. At the end of her racing career, Allen Paulson sent Zodiac Miss to the breeding shed.
Paulson was an aerospace magnate (Gulfstream Aerospace) whose many global investments included racehorses, casinos and oil exploration. Paulson also bred and raced Cigar, who currently stands at #2 on the North American All-Time Money Earners' list.
Azeri was purchased for $110,000 at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Jonabell Farm and trained by Laura de Seroux, one of the few women trainers in a man's world. Of her greatest horse, Seroux said, "She didn't let anyone down, and she did it in great style. She's simply the fastest filly in the world now. You can't catch her early, and you can't catch her late."
Allen Paulson died before he knew what Azeri would turn out to be, but his son Michael took over his father's role in her racing life.
Out of 24 starts, she won 17 and placed in 4. When she was awarded the Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for Horse of the Year, she was only the third female to win since the voting began in 1971, 35 years ago as of 2006. The other two female winners were All Along
All Along
All Along was a champion Thoroughbred racemare that was foaled in France. She was one of the top fillies of the last part of the 20th century, racing mostly in Europe.-Background:...
in 1983 and Lady's Secret
Lady's Secret
Lady's Secret was an American Eclipse Award winning Thoroughbred racemare that was listed in the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century.-Breeding and background:...
in 1986. Both of these had defeated males, though Azeri did not.
Azeri
Azeri (horse)
Azeri is an American Hall of Fame champion thoroughbred racehorse who was 2002 US Horse of the Year and Champion Older Female from 2002 to 2004.-Breeding:...
retired from racing in December 2004 as the US richest female money earner, but is now the second highest female money earner in North America with $4,079,820 (succeeding her is Zenyatta with $5,474,580 in 2009).
In her first attempt at breeding in Kentucky, she proved barren to Storm Cat for 2005 but successfully delivered a chestnut colt by A.P. Indy on February 14, 2007. This colt, initially named Vallenzeri, was renamed Take Control. He is the rare product of two Horses of the Year.
Sire
A.P. Indy (foaled 1989) is a champion stallion Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Kentucky, USA, by William Farish III and William Kilroy. He is known for his ancestry, his own record, and his successful progeny. He was sired by Triple Crown winner Seattle SlewSeattle Slew
Seattle Slew was an American Thoroughbred race horse who won the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1977, the tenth of eleven horses to accomplish the feat. He remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while undefeated. In the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S...
and out of the mare Weekend Surprise
Weekend Surprise
Weekend Surprise was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and dam of 1992 American Horse of the Year A.P. Indy and 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall. She was sired by the famous Triple Crown winner Secretariat....
, who herself was sired by another Triple Crown winner: Secretariat. He was the top-priced yearling of 1990 at $2.9 million.
Trained by Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale, A.P. Indy raced in 1991 and 1992. As a two-year old, after initially losing his first race and subsequently having a minor surgery (he had an undescended testicle removed), he reeled off successive victories in a maiden race, an allowance, and then the Grade I Hollywood Futurity. At three, he continued his winning streak with successive victories in the Grade II San Rafael Stakes and the Grade I Santa Anita Derby before being scratched from the Kentucky Derby on the morning of the race. He was then pointed towards the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes and the Grade I Belmont Stakes, of which he won both races. After a brief rest over the summer, he ran fourth in the Molson Million, and then ran a credible third in the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup (after a horrible stumble at the break that caused him to completely lose touch with the remaining horses). He then rebounded to easily win the Grade I Breeders' Cup Classic, in a hand ride, over a star-studded field of the top horses in training from around the world. In early 1993 he was voted the Eclipse Awards for the 1992 Horse of the Year and Champion three year old. In his career he had 11 starts, winning 8 and showing in one, earning a total of $2,979,815.
A.P. Indy was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 2000.
Since being retired to stud, he has sired hundreds of winning Thoroughbreds. Through 2007, he has sired 110 stakes winners. In 2005 alone he sired 16 stakes winners. Among his progency are Sweet Symphony, Suave
Suave
Suave is a brand name based in Chicago, IL used by the Unilever company in the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Canada. Targeting discount stores, the brand represents more than 100 products including shampoo, lotions, soaps and deodorant....
, Congrats, 2003 U.S. Horse of the Year Mineshaft
Mineshaft (horse)
Mineshaft was a multi-millionaire American thoroughbred racehorse and successful stallion. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Horse of the Year and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee A.P. Indy, who in turn was a son of 1977 U.S. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. His dam, Prospectors Delite, is by the...
, Golden Missile
Golden Missile
Golden Missile is a multi-millionaire American Thoroughbred racehorse and successful sire. Bred in Kentucky by W. Bruce Lunsford and raced under the Adena Springs banner for owner Frank Stronach, he had a record of 25: 7-7-4 with career earnings of $2,194,510...
, and Aptitude
Aptitude
An aptitude is an innate component of a competency to do a certain kind of work at a certain level. Aptitudes may be physical or mental...
. In 2006 he sired 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...
winner Bernardini
Bernardini
Bernardini is a thoroughbred race horse foaled on March 23, 2003 at Darley Stable in Kentucky. A son of A.P. Indy, he is out of Cara Rafaela who won almost a million dollars over the course of her racing career...
. He is also the sire of history-making 2007 Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
winner Rags to Riches
Rags To Riches
Rags to Riches is an American musical comedy drama series that was broadcast on NBC for two seasons from 1987 to 1988. Set in the 1960s, the series tells the story of Nick Foley, a self-made millionaire who adopts five orphan girls...
, the first filly to win that race in over a century. In 2009, his son, Eye of the Leopard
Eye of the Leopard
Eye Of The Leopard, is a 2006 documentary film by National Geographic Channel that shows the journey, life, and growth of a young leopard cub named Legadema. The film is narrated by Jeremy Irons. Irons would later narrate The Last Lions, a 2011 National Geographic documentary film.-External links:*...
won Canada's most prestigious race, the Queen's Plate
Queen's Plate
The Queen's Plate is Canada's oldest thoroughbred horse race. It is run at a distance of 1¼ miles for 3-year-old thoroughbred horses foaled in Canada. The race takes place each summer in June or July at Woodbine Racetrack, Etobicoke , Ontario...
.
As a broodmare sire, mares A.P. Indy has sired have produced 14 more stakes winners. He currently stands in stud at Lane's End Farm, where he commands $250,000 for a single live cover breeding.
Racing career
Take Control won his career debut at Santa Anita ParkSanta Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
, running over one mile. The chestnut colt rallied from last in his debut race on December 30,2009 earning $27,000 for the win. Take Control is owned by Kaleem Shah, CEO of CALNET.
He was then sidelined shortly after with a front shin injury and pointed towards a summer campaign. As of June 25 Take control has had two reported works 3f and 4f over synthetic in California. In an early interview, Trainer Bob Baffert had said he was pointing him towards Saratoga's Travers.
Throughout 2010 Take Control and for much of 2011, Take Control has been attempting a comeback to racing - however shin issues have plagued
his comeback to racing. The owner of Take Control, Kaleem Shah has shown extra ordinary patience in letting the horse develop at his own pace
without pushing him at anytime