Banned loses his battle

Banned winning the Del Mar Derby
Credit:  Benoit Photo

In spite of valiant efforts to save him, Del Mar Derby winner Banned was euthanized today as a result of complications from surgery to repair both sesamoids in his right front ankle, which were shattered as he pulled up from an easy half-mile workout on the Santa Anita turf on September 22nd.

Conditioned by Tom Proctor, the three-year-old Glen Hill Farm colorbearer was never out of the money this year, having won or placed in all six of his sophomore starts, including victories in the grassy Jefferson Cup-G2 and American Turf Stakes-G3 at Churchill Downs.  He lost a neck decision to Air Support in the Virginia Derby in July, and was third in Treasure Beach's Secretariat-G1 at a mile and a quarter in August.

In his most recent start, Banned captured the tragedy-marred Grade II Del Mar Derby on Labor Day weekend, eeking out a photo finish against Midnight Interlude after launching a powerful stretch rally.  That race claimed the life of Burns, who suffered a catastrophic breakdown near the first turn and was later euthanized as a result of injuries that were similar to those that ultimately led to Banned's demise.

The news of Banned death was initially reported this afternoon by Glen Hill President Craig Bernick, who said, through his Twitter account:  "Heavy hearted to report that Banned didn't make it.  He ended up foundering in his good foot this morning, and we did what's right for him."

The second leading money-winning son of Champion Turf Horse and top third-crop sire, Kitten's Joy (by El Prado), Banned was the first foal of his dam, the winning Capote mare Cardinalli, to make it to the races.  Her first foal, a 2007 full brother to Banned, died as a yearling.  Bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who raced Kitten's Joy, Banned was purchased by Glen Hill for $130,000 at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale.

Barely a year later, he broke his maiden at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf at Belmont in his second start at two, after a lacklustre debut on the dirt at Saratoga.  He went on to romp by five lengths in a mile allowance test at Keeneland last October, before being put away for the year.  A model of consistency, Banned won five races and placed three times in 10 starts, while banking $599,576.  He was truly a turf star in the making.

According to Bernick, Banned will be buried at Glen Hill Farm in Ocala.

Winter Memories lives up to her lofty heritage in the Lake George

Winter Memories blew by the field to capture the Lake George
Photo:  Adam Coglianese, Courtesy NYRA

Anyone who is trying to figure out who might be the best turf filly or mare in the country right now need look no further than the phenomenal Winter Memories, who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Lake George-G3 at Saratoga today in truly spectacular fashion.  She deserves all of the superlatives that will be used to describe her scintillating performance.

It wasn't only that she trounced some very nice fillies--including last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, More Than Real--it was the way she did it, after jockey Jose Lezcano had to slam on the brakes as he attempted to guide the gray El Prado filly around the far turn from the back of the pack because another horse suddenly swung out in front of him.

But then Lezcano simply pushed an invisible button and Winter Memories effortlessly turned on the afterburners and overtook the leaders in what seemed to be only a handful of strides, crossing the finish line some four lengths ahead of her stunned rivals, while being geared down.  She stopped the timer in 1:41.57 as track announcer Tom Durkin exclaimed, "What a Filly!  A dazzling performance at the Spa today!"  Yes, indeed.

When people talk about great racehorses, they often mention heart.  What they usually mean is that intangible character of courage and determination that is difficult to measure.  But it's the other kind of heart that comes to mind when you watch Winter Memories accelerate.  Only a horse with a finely tuned internal combustion engine, in the guise of a superior cardiovascular system, coupled with biomechanical finesse, could do what Winter Memories did in the Lake George.  With her victory today, the Phillips Racing Partnership homebred remains perfect in her three starts at three different tracks this year.  She has compiled an enviable career record of 5-1-0 in six starts, with earnings of $540,000.

Winter Memories is just the latest in a long line of high-class turf performers descended from the revered Darby Dan mare, Golden Trail, ancestress of Champion Turf Mare Ryafan, Champion Turf Male Sunshine Forever, and Winter Memories' own dam, the distinguished Silver Hawk mare, Memories of Silver.  A tough and talented multiple grade I stakes winner who earned over $1.4 million during three seasons of racing, Memories of Silver notched her initial graded stakes score in the second running of the Lake George, and went on to capture the Queen Elizabeth-G1 at Keeneland in course-record time, as well as the Beverly D.-G1 and the Diana-G2.

Winter Memories is the eighth, and by far the most successful of Memories of Silver's foals.  She is bred on the same stamina-strengthening cross as the graded stakes-winning turf stars Kitten's Joy, Senor Swinger, and Paddy O'Prado, all of whom are by El Prado out of Roberto-line mares.

Assuming that Winter Memories comes out of the Lake George in good shape, her trainer, Jimmy Toner, expects her to make her next start in the mile-and-an-eighth grassy Lake Placid-G2 at Saratoga on August 21st.  Like the thousands of racing fans who were awed by the filly's exploits today, I can't wait.