2006 Stephen Foster Handicap Winner

March 13 - Flashy Bull  

Quick Trivia question: Can you name the first Grade 1 winner for West Point Thoroughbreds? Ok, here's a clue - he's also their first Kentucky Derby runner. Still guessing? Ok, he's by Holy Bull and he's gray and his first name is Flashy.

I have so many stories about Flashy Bull. I've told them over the years on Facebook, but I'll just pick one that cracks me up.

It's the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro has just won the Kentucky Derby and before starting the migration out of Churchill Downs, I make one last stop at the little boy’s room. As I'm standing at the urinal, I notice the guy standing next to me is wearing a West Point Thoroughbreds hat and he's crying. I knew Flashy Bull didn't do well, in fact he finished last. I assumed this guy was crying because of the race result. Then, he looked over at me (candidly, a no no in public bathrooms) and as if he had to give an explanation to a total stranger, he says, "I just had a horse in the Kentucky Derby. I still can't believe it."

Horse racing, the Kentucky Derby, these are the things that turn otherwise stoic figures into puddles of goo. Of all my derby experiences, having a grown man explain why he was crying pretty puts the significance of the race and the emotional connection to these horses in perspective.

No Kentucky Derby winner has carried the West Point silks to the winner’s circle (yet), but West Point did own a piece of Always Dreaming and a piece of Horse of the Year Flightline. I sure hope my bathroom buddy owned a piece of either of those horses!

Flashy Bull was a hardy and consistent colt who reached the highest level of older horse racing in 2007. He was foaled in 2003 and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for West Point Thoroughbreds. His sire was the great Holy Bull, the 1994 Horse of the Year, and his dam was Iridescence, a daughter of Mt. Livermore. He was a sound and stout colt who handled lots of running and kept improving as he matured.

Flashy Bull ran on the 2006 Triple Crown trail as a three year old and made it into the field for the 132nd Kentucky Derby, ridden by Mike E. Smith. He did not factor in that race, won by Barbaro, but he kept running well in stakes company through the rest of his three year old season. The big breakthrough came as a four year old in 2007.

The signature win came in the 2007 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Ridden by Robby Albarado, Flashy Bull outlasted Magna Graduate down the long Churchill stretch and won by a head in a thrilling finish. The win was the biggest of his career and gave West Point Thoroughbreds its first Grade 1 victory. Flashy Bull also placed in other top races against older horses and showed he belonged with the very best in the handicap division.

After his Stephen Foster win, Flashy Bull was retired to stud. He stood at several farms in his stallion career and sired stakes winners as a regional sire. He earned over 1 million dollars on the racetrack. Flashy Bull is remembered as a tough campaigner who gave his connections one of those great moments at Churchill Downs and proved that a horse who keeps showing up can write his name in big race history.

Sources:

• Flashy Bull - Wikipedia

• Flashy Bull - West Point Thoroughbreds

• Stephen Foster H. (gr. I) - Bloodhorse