Drosselmeyer: another close chapter of the Kentucky Derby contention
The 2011 Breeders’ Cup brought on the forefront a 2012 Kentucky Derby contender who was never in the limelight before, Drosselmeyer, Distorted Humor’s five-year-old horse out of mare Golden Ballet. He holds the honour of swinging around the most lethal upset
of the season by winning the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on 5th November 2011 at Churchill Downs over 1 ¼ miles.
Claiming the race within two minutes and :04.27 seconds, the five-year-old left Game On Dude bewildered as the runner while Ruler On Ice tracked onto the third position.
According to plans, Drosselmeyer was to be retired after the spectacle however, the outcome of his final race was so unexpected that the WinStar Farm did consider racing him for yet another season.
“All options are open for Drosselmeyer, and we expect to make a decision by some time next week,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar president & CEO. “Our phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday's big win, including Mike Smith lobbying to keep the horse
in training. So we're weighing all of our options and will do what we feel is best for Drosselmeyer and WinStar.”
And as has turned out, the 2011’s highest rated horse in the world on dirt by World Thoroughbred Rankings was retired to stand at Keane Stud in Amenia, New York. Just before retiring, he did accomplish what has been a dream for every owner and trainer of
any and all horses, Drosselmeyer stands shoulder to shoulder with the legend A.P. Indy as both are the only winners of the Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Drosselmeyer had not raced more than sixeen times in his entire four-year-old career. First career win came towards the end of his maiden season in which he ran four times.
As a three-year-old, Drosselmeyer’s most significant race was the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in which he finished third. The race was won by Mission Impazible while the runner up for the event was A Little Warm.
The Triple Crown opportunity that season had to be erased from the plans due to insufficient earnings and the Kentucky Derby too did not present itself as the most feasible option anymore.
However, the disappointment was not to last long as Drosselmeyer finished second in the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes.
Whether Drosselmeyer knew that he was competing in the actual test of the three legged Triple Crown in the form of the Grade1 Belmont Stakes or was after avenging the winner, Fly Down, from their recent encounter in the Dwyer Stakes, he got hold of the most
important pillar that was sufficient to support him as an Eclipse Award and Triple Crown nominee.
His fourth year had him participating in three very vital races, the One Count Stakes over 1 1/4 miles which he bagged and then the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap and the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes, getting placed second in both.
The connections are not regretful whatsoever on getting Drosselmeyer finally out of the racing circuits specially after getting the last feather in the cap.
How his extended career would have impacted the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup and eventually the Triple Crown, will stay unveiled.
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