Volponi
Encyclopedia
Volponi is an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse
. Bred by trainer Philip G. Johnson's family operation, Amherst Stable, he was sired by Florida Derby
winner Cryptoclearance
. His dam, Prom Knight, was a daughter of the 1987 Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis, who was a son of the great French
runner Alleged
, who won back-to-back editions of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
In 2002, Volponi earned the most important win of his career when he won the Breeders' Cup Classic
by 6½ lengths, the largest margin in the race's history. In winning the Classic, Volponi overcame odds of 44-to-1 to beat an outstanding field that included runner-up Medaglia d'Oro
, Milwaukee Brew
, Evening Attire
, Macho Uno
, Hawk Wing
, War Emblem
, and Harlan's Holiday, among others.
At age five, Volponi made eight starts in 2002 without a win but had five seconds and two third place finishes. Retired to stud
duty, his offspring have met with limited success in racing. At the end of 2005, he was sent to KRA Jeju Stud Farm in South Korea
. To date, his best runner in terms of career earnings is daughter Clearly Foxy, who won the 2007 Grade III
Natalma Stakes
.
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...
. Bred by trainer Philip G. Johnson's family operation, Amherst Stable, he was sired by Florida Derby
Florida Derby
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida on the Saturday closest to the end of March or the first of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade 1 race is run at 1⅛ miles on the dirt...
winner Cryptoclearance
Cryptoclearance
Cryptoclearance was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.Trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Scotty Schulhofer, leading up to the 1987 U.S. Triple Crown series, Cryptoclearance won the Florida Derby...
. His dam, Prom Knight, was a daughter of the 1987 Irish Derby winner Sir Harry Lewis, who was a son of the great French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
runner Alleged
Alleged (horse)
Alleged was a champion American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best remembered as winning back-to-back Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes in 1977 and 1978. Trained by Vincent O'Brien in Ireland and ridden by Lester Piggott, this front-running horse was undefeated in all but one of his appearances, that being...
, who won back-to-back editions of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
In 2002, Volponi earned the most important win of his career when he won the Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup Classic
The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade I Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 year olds and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships...
by 6½ lengths, the largest margin in the race's history. In winning the Classic, Volponi overcame odds of 44-to-1 to beat an outstanding field that included runner-up Medaglia d'Oro
Medaglia d'Oro
Medaglia d'Oro is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Albert & Joyce Bell, a translation of his Italian name means "Gold Medal." He was sired by Ireland's 1991 Champion 2-Year-Old, El Prado, who was a son of the fourteen-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland, Sadler's Wells who in...
, Milwaukee Brew
Milwaukee Brew
Milwaukee Brew is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known as one of only three horses to ever win back-to-back runnings of the Santa Anita Handicap....
, Evening Attire
Evening Attire (horse)
Evening Attire is a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred racehorse, foaled on February 14, 1998, though most of his racing career has taken place in New York.-A little history, early and late:Bred by Joseph M. Grant and Hall of Famer Thomas J...
, Macho Uno
Macho Uno
Macho Uno is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by the 1994 American Horse of the Year and U.S...
, Hawk Wing
Hawk Wing
Hawk Wing is a Thoroughbred racehorse trained by Aidan O'Brien.-2001: Two-year-old career:He was the top two-year old of 2001 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, by virtue of a two and a half length win in the National Stakes. He was not undefeated at two, however, having earlier finished second in...
, War Emblem
War Emblem
War Emblem was the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2002. His Derby time was 2:01.13. Victor Espinoza was his jockey for the Derby, never having seen the horse until the morning of the race. War Emblem, who went off at 21-to-1 odds, gave trainer Bob Baffert his third Derby...
, and Harlan's Holiday, among others.
At age five, Volponi made eight starts in 2002 without a win but had five seconds and two third place finishes. Retired to stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty, his offspring have met with limited success in racing. At the end of 2005, he was sent to KRA Jeju Stud Farm in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. To date, his best runner in terms of career earnings is daughter Clearly Foxy, who won the 2007 Grade III
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...
Natalma Stakes
Natalma Stakes
The Natalma Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Run in early September, the G III race is run at a distance of one mile on turf and is open to two-year-old fillies...
.