Oscar Performance
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Oscar Performance (foaled April 6, 2014) is a retired American
Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...
racehorse and
sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...
who won the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North ...
at age two. After losing his first two starts at age three, he rebounded to win the next three, including the Grade I
Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I stakes Thoroughbred racing, race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds run at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of . Colt (horseracing), Colt ...
and
Secretariat Stakes The Secretariat Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the Grass, turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlingto ...
. He then finished third in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic before finishing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Turf. After recovering from a bout of colic, he made his four-year-old debut in June 2018 in the
Poker Stakes The Poker Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. History The event ...
, winning in track-record time. In his next start as the favorite in the
Arlington Million The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward on turf. It was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of miles. The Arling ...
, he was pulled up after taking a bad step, but he rebounded to win the
Woodbine Mile The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Currently sponsored by Ricoh, the Woodbine Mile offers a purse of Can$1, ...
in September.


Background

Oscar Performance was foaled in Kentucky at Mill Ridge Farm. He was bred by Mrs. Jerry Amerman and races for Amerman Racing, owned by Amerman and her husband John. Oscar Performance was sired by
Kitten's Joy Kitten's Joy (May 8, 2001 – July 15, 2022) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who was a multiple graded stakes winner and the American Champion Turf Horse of 2004. Since retiring to stud, he became one of the leading sires in North America and has ...
, the U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse of 2004 whose wins included the
Secretariat Stakes The Secretariat Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the Grass, turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlingto ...
and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, plus a second place in the
Breeders' Cup Turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current ...
. Unusually for a leading North American sire, his best offspring are also turf specialists, including Big Blue Kitten, Bobby's Kitten, Real Solution and
Stephanie's Kitten Stephanie's Kitten (foaled March 26, 2009) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning two Breeders' Cup races. As a two-year-old in 2011 she won the Grade I Alcibiades Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She won ...
. Oscar Performance's dam, Devine Actress, was a stakes winner for Amerman Racing who had previously produced a stakes winning full brother to Oscar Performance named Oscar Nominated. "I remember him as a very attractive foal, the kind that you hope for", said Headley Bell of Mill Ridge Farm. "He continued to go that way as he grew. He was more of an alpha, but he stayed out of trouble." Oscar Performance was trained by Brian A. Lynch.


Racing career


2016: two-year-old season

Oscar Performance made his first start on the turf course at Saratoga in a maiden special weight race on July 23, 2016, finishing fifth after trailing the field early and making a mild rally in the stretch. In his second start on August 20, he instead went to the early lead and continued to draw away from the field, eventually winning by lengths. The performance caught the attention of many turf writers, earning him the "TDN Rising Star" designation from the ''Thoroughbred Daily News''. Oscar Performance made his graded stakes debut at
Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...
on October 1 in the Grade III
Pilgrim Stakes The Pilgrim Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds over a distance of miles on the turf track scheduled annually in late September at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The event currently offers a purse of $200,00 ...
. Over a yielding turf course, he went to the lead and set a comfortable pace before kicking clear in the stretch to win by six lengths. The win earned Oscar Performance a berth in the
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is an American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old horses, run on a grass course at a distance of one mile. It is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North ...
, where he was made the 6–1 third choice in the betting. He settled in second behind a strong early pace set by Wellabled, then moved to the lead on the far turn. Down the stretch, he opened up a comfortable lead then withstood a late run by Lancaster Bomber to win by lengths. It was the first win at the Breeders' Cup for Lynch and jockey José Ortiz.


2017: three-year-old season

Oscar Performance was given some time off then resumed workouts in February 2017. He made his first start as a three-year-old on April 7 in the Transylvania Stakes at
Keeneland Keeneland Association, Inc. is an equine business based in Lexington, Kentucky. It includes two distinct divisions: the Keeneland Race Course, a Thoroughbred racing facility, and Keeneland Sales, a horse auction complex. It is also known for ...
. He tracked the early pace in third place but lacked his usual response when asked to run in the stretch and finished third. In his next start in the American Stakes at Churchill Downs, he faded to last after setting the early pace. Lynch later attributed the losses to the soft turf courses in Kentucky that spring. John Amerman also thought that the colt did not respond well to the raceday medication Lasix (
furosemide Furosemide, sold under the brand name Lasix among others, is a loop diuretic medication used to treat edema due to heart failure, liver scarring, or kidney disease. Furosemide may also be used for the treatment of high blood pressure. It can ...
), which was administered for the first and only time before the American Stakes. Oscar Performance returned to form on June 3 in the Pennine Ridge Stakes at
Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...
, where he took the lead soon after the start and won by lengths. He put in a similar performance when winning the
Belmont Derby The Belmont Derby is an American Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred race horse run over a distance of miles on the turf at Belmont Park in July. The purse for the 2023 race is US$750,000. Race history In 2014, the race became ...
on July 8 by two lengths in front running fashion. In his next start in the
Secretariat Stakes The Secretariat Stakes is a Graded stakes race, Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds over a distance of one mile on the Grass, turf. The event was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Arlingto ...
at
Arlington Park Arlington Park (formerly known as Arlington International Racecourse) is a former horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Once called the ''Arlington Park Jockey Club'', it was located adjacent to the Illinois Rou ...
on August 12, he faced a strong field including three European challengers and several local stakes winners. This time, he stalked the early pace set by Sonic Boom and then drew off in the stretch to win by lengths. "You're never confident until the finish line, but they were very good horses", said John Amerman. "We're delighted Jose rtizcould ride so well and beat them." On September 30, he faced older horses for the first time in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at a distance of miles. He raced close to the early pace set by Converge but could not match the finishing kick of
Beach Patrol Beach Patrol is a half-hour television series airing on truTV. The show features lifeguards and police working together to apprehend criminals and save lives. Each of the program's four seasons have focused on a different city San Diego, Miami ...
and finished third. He faced even more daunting competition in the
Breeders' Cup Turf The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current ...
on November 4, where the European contingent included defending champion Highland Reel. Oscar Performance's best strategy was summed up by sportswriter Steve Haskin as "go to the front and let him run." Oscar Performance set a moderate pace for the first mile, tracked by Beach Patrol and Highland Reel. Turning for home, Beach Patrol launched his bid and passed Oscar Performance in mid stretch, only to be passed near the wire by longshot Talismanic. Oscar Performance weakened in the last furlong to finish ninth.


2018: four-year-old season

Oscar Performance's return to the track was delayed by a bout of colic and did not make his four-year-old debut until June 17, 2018 in the
Poker Stakes The Poker Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four years old and older held over a distance of one mile (8 furlongs) on the turf held annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. History The event ...
at Belmont Park. He stalked the early pace, started his move on the final turn and pulled away down the stretch to win by lengths. His time for the one-mile race was 1:31.23, breaking the track record set by
Elusive Quality Elusive Quality (January 27, 1993 – March 14, 2018) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was a record-setting sprinter on the racetrack and the leading sire in North America of 2004. He sired the 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones. ...
in 1998. "Absolutely thrilled with his comeback effort", said Lynch. "He did it with authority and came back with a very fast time. That's a long-standing track record to break, so to have him do that off the layoff makes you look forward to the rest of the year." The time also tied the North-American record set by Mandurah at Monmouth Park in 2010. Oscar Performance made his next step on August 11 in the
Arlington Million The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flat horse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward on turf. It was originally raced at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois over a distance of miles. The Arling ...
, going off as the 2-1 favorite. He broke slowly and settled into third place during the early running. Around the far turn, he was bumped by Robert Bruce, the eventual race winner, then recovered his stride and started to make up ground. However, he slowed during the stretch drive after taking a bad step and was pulled up by Ortiz. He walked into the track ambulance without evident distress and subsequently checked out sound. On September 15, Oscar Performance entered the
Woodbine Mile The Woodbine Mile is a Grade I stakes race on turf for Thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up held annually in mid September at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. Currently sponsored by Ricoh, the Woodbine Mile offers a purse of Can$1, ...
in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
. The field included several well-regarded shippers from across North America and Europe, but Oscar Performance was left as the sole speed horse in the field when La Sardane scratched. After breaking slowly, Ortiz urged him to the lead, then slowed down the pace, completing the first half mile in 48.78 seconds. Ortiz then released Oscar Performance, who ran the second half mile in 44.44 seconds on his way to a convincing victory. "I was really emotional past the wire because this is one of my favorite horses", said Ortiz. "He gave me my first Breeders' Cup win and to see him last time loading up back to the barn was painful for me. I'm just very happy he's back and back on form that is at the highest level." The Woodbine Mile provided a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile, held November 3 at Churchill Downs. Oscar Performance broke slowly and was never a factor in the race, finishing last in the field of fourteen.


Stud

Oscar Performance was retired to stud at Mill Ridge Farm, where he stood in the 2019 season for $20,000. For 2024 the stud fee for Oscar Performance was increased to $25,000.


Notable progeny

''c = colt, f =
filly A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use: *In most cases, a ''filly'' is a female horse under four years old. *In some nations, such as the United Kingdom and the United States ...
, g =
gelding A gelding (Help:IPA/English, /ˈɡɛldɪŋ/) is a castration, castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. The term is also used with certain other animals and livestock, such as domesticated Camelidae, camels. By compa ...
''


Pedigree

*Oscar Performance is
inbred Inbreeding is the production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically. By analogy, the term is used in human reproduction, but more commonly refers to the genetic disorders an ...
4 × 4 to Northern Dancer, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.


References

{{Reflist, 2 2014 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 20-b Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winners