Gormley Belmont

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• Gormley Belmont Massachusetts
• Gormley Belmont Ky
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Gormley (foaled March 20, 2014, in Kentucky) is a two-time Grade I winning-American Thoroughbred racehorse. One of the leading contenders on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, Gormley finished ninth in the Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes. He was retired in October 2017 to Spendthrift Farm, where his sire, Malibu Moon stands. She was joined on the journey by Jerry and Ann Moss' Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley, trained by John Shirreffs, on assignment for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented.

Gormley (foaled March 20, 2014, in Kentucky) is a two-time Grade I winning-American Thoroughbred racehorse. One of the leading contenders on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, Gormley finished ninth in the Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes. He was retired in October 2017 to Spendthrift Farm, where his sire, Malibu Moon stands.

May 27, 2017 We’re undecided on the Belmont.” The final jewel in the Triple Crown will be decided at a mile and a half on June 10 at Belmont Park. Gormley, a son of Malibu Moon owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, was ninth in the May 6 Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness Stakes on May 20. Jun 09, 2017 But bringing Gormley—the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner who ran ninth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1)—to Belmont has helped Shirreffs move on. He compares the aura surrounding. Jun 09, 2017 Owners Ann and Jerry Moss hope Gormley returns them to racing’s heights in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park after their bid for the Preakness Stakes went painfully awry.

Gormley Belmont Ma

Background[edit]

Gormley is a bay colt with a thin blaze and a sock on his left-hind leg. His sire is Malibu Moon, best known as the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Orb. He is the first foal out of Race to Urga, a stakes winner by Bernstein.^[2] Gormley was bred by Castleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate and was entered in the Keeneland September Sale as a yearling, but did not reach his reserve price of $150,000. He was then purchased privately after the sale by Jerry and Ann Moss.^[3]

Gormley is named after British sculptor Antony Gormley. 'It was a name I was familiar with from my many trips to England,' said Ann Moss. 'I’ve tried to buy a few of his sculptures, but I couldn’t get it done.'^[4]

2016: two-year-old season[edit]

Gormley made his debut in a Maiden Special Weight on September 9, and won impressively by 4 1/4 lengths. He was ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, who had worked with him through the summer.^[3] His trainer, John Shirreffs, was so impressed with him that he entered him in the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes off his maiden victory, where he was sent off at odds of 10.80-1. Gormley broke well, went to the lead on the first turn, and led the rest of the way. His winning margin was three lengths over the well-regarded Klimt, winner of the Del Mar Futurity.^[5] After the race, Shirreffs stated: 'He looks like a million bucks, he's a beautiful horse and he's doing really well. I like that when he got into that big gear he has, he didn't get too excited for a young horse and today he was all business.'^[6]

On November 5, Gormley ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita, as third choice in a field of eleven that was considered fairly evenly matched. He bobbled at the break, then moved into fifth while racing four wide. Rounding the final turn, he started to drop back, eventually finishing seventh.^[7]

2017: three-year-old season[edit]

Gormley Belmont Massachusetts

Gormley began his three-year-old campaign on January 7, 2017, by winning the one-mile Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park, where he was the second choice behind the highly regarded colt American Anthem, who was making his second career start. On a sloppy track, Gormley broke quickly and took the early lead, but then settled and let American Anthem take the lead. Gormley raced in second, about a length behind. Down the backstretch, Gormley moved alongside and the two horses fought for the lead around the far turn. Gormley started to pull ahead a little in mid-stretch, but American Anthem battled back, and the two dueled to the wire, with Gormley prevailing to win by a short head. After the race, Shirreffs said: 'He's quick. He starts quick and he gets away quickly, but then he checks himself as he gets into the race and he relaxes. It was great to see him pick it back up again and get it done.'^[8]

After his win in the Sham Stakes, Gormley was entered in the San Felipe Stakes, also at Santa Anita, on March 11. After stalking most of the race, he faded during the homestretch, finishing fourth behind Term of Art, Iliad, and winner Mastery.^[9] Gormley raced in the Santa Anita Derby, one of the major Kentucky Derby preps. Despite his San Felipe run, he was liked by the bettors and was installed at 9/2 odds for the morning line. With American Anthem, Battle of Midway, and stablemate Royal Mo engaged in a speed duel in front, Espinoza altered his tactics and had Gormley stalk from behind. As they entered the stretch, Gormley started to rally past his tiring rivals, winning by a half-length.^[10] Espinoza noted: 'He works really hard and that’s what it takes.” ^[11]

After his win, B. Wayne Hughes announced that he had purchased Gormley's breeding rights, and that he will stand Gormley at his Spendthrift Farm when he retires from racing. Spendthrift Farm also owns Gormley's sire, Malibu Moon, who is the sire of Kentucky Derby winner Orb.^[12]

On May 6, Gormley started in the 2017 Kentucky Derby where he was largely dismissed by the bettors at odds of 20-1. Starting from post position in 18 in a field of 20, he was carried four wide around both turns. He started to make a run at the top of the stretch but was bumped slightly and forced to switch paths by Practical Joke, then faded to ninth.^[13] Espinoza stated: “I had a great trip, but not enough horse. He never really picked up the bridle.” ^[14]

Gormley made his next start in the Belmont Stakes, and was made 8-1 on morning line odds. Gormley raced near the early pace and mounted a challenge around the far turn but tired down the stretch to finish fourth, four lengths behind third place-runner Patch, and eight lengths in front of fifth place finisher Senior Investment.^[15]

Gormley Belmont Ky

On August 26, Gormley raced in the ungraded Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar. He broke well, stayed in fourth position on the backstretch and far turn, but never threatened the leaders, finishing a flat fourth, beaten 10 3/4 lengths by winner Battle of Midway.^[16] Espinoza said: “He ran all right. I think he needed it. He’ll be better next time.” ^[17]

Race record[edit]

Pedigree[edit]

Gormley is inbred 3x4 to Mr. Prospector, meaning that Mr. Prospector appears once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

References[edit]

1. ^'Gormley Profile'. www.equibase.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
2. ^'Race To Urga Horse Pedigree'. www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
3. ^ ^abAndersen, Steve. 'Jockey Espinoza has career day with three Grade 1 wins'. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
4. ^'Gormley an Equine Work of Art in Progress'. www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
5. ^http://www.drf.com/news/gormley-left-alone-lead-frontrunner
6. ^Angst, Frank. 'Gormley Upsets FrontRunner Field'. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
7. ^ ^ab'Chart for the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile'. Equibase. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
8. ^'Gormley Edges American Anthem in Sham'. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
9. ^'Mastery Dominates San Felipe, Sustains Injury After'. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
10. ^'Gormley Outlasts Rivals in Santa Anita Derby'. BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
11. ^http://www.santaanita.com/stakes-quotes/santa-anita-derby-quotes-saturday-april-8-2017/#.Wccg6rKGPIU
12. ^https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/220946/gormley-officially-to-spendthrift-on-retirement
13. ^ ^ab'Chart of the Kentucky Derby'. Equibase. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
14. ^https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/kentucky-derby-143-jockey-quotes
15. ^ ^ab'Chart of the Belmont Stakes'(PDF). Equibase. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
16. ^https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/223294/battle-of-midway-cruises-to-shared-belief-stakes-win
17. ^https://www.dmtc.com/media/news/shared-belief-stakes-quotes-964
18. ^'Chart for September 4, 2016'. Equibase. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
19. ^'Chart for the FrontRunner Stakes'. Equibase. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
20. ^'Chart for the Sham Stakes'. Equibase. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
21. ^'Chart of the San Felipe Stakes'. Equibase. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
22. ^'Chart of the Santa Anita Derby'(PDF). Equibase. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
23. ^http://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=DMR&raceDate=08/26/2017&cy=USA&rn=7
24. ^http://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm/Gormley?page_state=DISPLAY_REPORT&reference_number=9688618&registry=T&horse_name=Gormley&dam_name=Race%20to%20Urga&foaling_year=2014&include_sire_line=Y

It is probably of very little consolation to Mark Casse that he is not the first trainer to have the rug pulled out from under a Belmont Stakes favorite at the 11th hour.

It happened to Hirsch Jacobs in 1970, when Personality, the winner of the Preakness and the Jersey Derby, developed a head cold after Belmont entries were taken and was sent to the bench.

It happened to D. Wayne Lukas in 1995, when Timber Country, the champion 2-year-old of his generation and the winner of the Preakness, spiked a 104-degree fever on the eve of the Belmont and had to be medicated.

It happened big time to Doug O'Neill in 2012, when the Triple Crown dreams of I'll Have Another were ended by a strained ligament revealed barely 24 hours before the final jewel was to be run.

Jacobs won the 1970 Belmont anyway with High Echelon, just as Lukas had Thunder Gulch ready to win the race in 1995 in the absence of his stablemate. Casse, unfortunately, does not have a Classic Empire replacement part for Saturday's 149th Belmont Stakes. Instead, he will lick his wounds with starters in four of the other stakes races decorating the card.

The good news is that the hoof abscess troubling Classic Empire should not prevent him from running again. This is something John Shirreffs did not need to point out as he waited at Belmont's Barn 17 on Wednesday for the arrival of his Belmont starter, Santa Anita Derby winner Gormley.

Earlier this spring, Shirreffs figured he would be at Belmont Park with the super-sized Royal Mo, the winner of the Robert B. Lewis Stakes and a close third in the Santa Anita Derby.

Royal Mo was all dressed up and ready to go in the Kentucky Derby, but he did not have enough qualifying points to get in. Shirreffs punted and aimed for the Preakness, then those plans turned to sand when Royal Mo fractured a sesamoid during a work at Pimlico one week shy of the race. Let's just say there was plenty of empathy to go around as the news of Classic Empire spread.

'That's so unfortunate, what happened,' Shirreffs said. 'I don't even want to go there.'

The trainer could not help thinking immediately of his fallen warrior, recovering from ankle surgery at New Bolton in Eastern Pennsylvania. He shot a text to Dr. Dean Richardson requesting a Royal Mo update. The answer read: 'He's fine.'

'That was it?' said Shirreffs. 'Three words? Not even three, really. Then I noticed a video link in the corner of the screen. There was Royal Mo walking, grazing on some grass. A picture like that was worth a thousand words. It was good enough for me.'

Royal Mo will never race again, leaving the colors of Ann and Jerry Moss to be carried in the Belmont by Gormley, a son of Malibu Moon who finished ninth in the Derby after breaking from post 18.

Gormley Belmont Oh

'It's too bad it rained because it seemed like the inside had a huge bias, and if you weren't in there somewhere, you weren't running on quite the same track,' Shirreffs noted. 'He was putting out the same effort as other horses but not covering the same ground.'

No one ever needs an excuse in a 20-horse Derby melee, especially when rain has turned the track into creamed corn. Still, it helps if a Derby also-ran like Gormley, who came in with worthy credentials, can shed the memory and produce a good race as soon as possible. Victor Espinoza will ride him again on Saturday.

Shirreffs did the Derby-Belmont two-step once before with Tiago, the winner of the 2007 Santa Anita Derby. The colt was seventh at Churchill Downs, beaten about 10 lengths by Street Sense, then came back to finish third in the Belmont, 5 1/2 lengths behind Rags to Riches and Curlin.

But if Gormley's excuse in the Derby was the surface, who's to say he won't turn up his toes when he gets a load of Big Sandy? Belmont Park is not for everyone.

'You don't know until they get on it,' said Shirreffs, who has trained at Belmont in the past. 'Tiago loved it the first time he touched it. If they don't stumble or lose their action, you know you're probably okay.'

The Belmont backstretch will be a strange place Saturday afternoon. While Classic Empire nurses his foot, Preakness winner Cloud Computing will be happily at rest in the Chad Brown barn, while Derby winner Always Dreaming, full of life, will be over there at Camp Pletcher, figuring he could have at least won the Woody Stephens Stakes.

Their absence has thrown Belmont predictions to the wind, with pundits reluctantly hoping that Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry has one of his good days. Gormley has the same kind of record, replete with giddy highs and baffling lows.

'He's got a good, strong constitution, and he's coming here very energetic,' Shirreffs said. 'You just hope he gets some breaks and a good trip, and then we'll see.'

A Gormley win would be an upset, although not on the 50-1 scale at which Shirreffs won the 2005 Kentucky Derby with Giacomo. Leaving nothing to chance, however, the trainer planned on a meal Wednesday night at Villa d'Este in nearby Floral Park.

'I went to dinner there with Allen Jerkens a few times,' Shirreffs said.

No further explanation was necessary.