Gormley (horse)

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.

Gormley
Gormley at the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile
SireMalibu Moon
GrandsireA.P. Indy
DamRace to Urga
DamsireBernstein
SexColt
FoaledMarch 20th, 2014
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederCastleton Lyons & Kilboy Estate
OwnerJerry and Ann Moss
TrainerJohn Shirreffs
Record9: 4-0-0
Earnings$1,026,000[1]
Major wins
FrontRunner Stakes (2016)
Sham Stakes (2017)
Santa Anita Derby (2017)
Last updated on September 23, 2017

Background

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

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

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]

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
Date Track Race Grade Distance Finish Margin Time Odds Ref
9/4/2016 Del Mar Racetrack Maiden Special Weight x ​6 1⁄2 furlongs 1st ​4 1⁄4 lengths 1:17.79 6.70 [18]
10/1/2016 Santa Anita Park FrontRunner Stakes I ​1 1⁄16 miles 1st 3 lengths 1:43.57 10.80 [19]
11/5/2016 Santa Anita Park Breeders' Cup Juvenile I ​1 1⁄16 miles 7th (​16 1⁄4) lengths 1:42.60 5.20 [7]
1/7/2017 Santa Anita Park Sham Stakes III 1 mile 1st head 1:35.89 1.60 [20]
3/11/2017 Santa Anita Park San Felipe Stakes II ​1 1⁄16 miles 4th (​9 3⁄4 lengths) 1:42:28 2.10 [21]
4/8/2017 Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Derby I ​1 1⁄8 miles 1st ​1⁄2 length 1:51.16 6.20 [22]
5/6/2017 Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby I ​1 1⁄4 miles 9th (​14 1⁄4 lengths) 2:03.59 22.30 [13]
6/10/2017 Belmont Park Belmont Stakes I ​1 1⁄2 miles 4th (12 lengths) 2:30.02 9.10 [15]
8/26/17 Del Mar Racetrack Shared Belief Stakes x 1 mile 4th (10 3/4) 1:35.94 3.20 [23]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Gormley, bay colt, foaled March 20, 2014 [24]
Sire
Malibu Moon
b. 1997		 A. P. Indy
dkb/br. 1989		 Seattle Slew
dkb/br. 1974		 Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Weekend Surprise
b. 1980		 Secretariat
Lassie Dear
Macoumba
b. 1992		 Mr. Prospector
b. 1970		 Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Maximova (FR)
b. 1980		 Green Dancer
Baracala
Dam
Race to Urga
b. 2008		 Bernstein
b. 1997		 Storm Cat
dkb/br. 1983		 Storm Bird
Terlingua
La Affirmed
b. 1983		 Affirmed
La Mesa
Miss Mambo
dkb/br. 2001		 Kingmambo
b. 1990		 Mr. Prospector
Miesque
Troika
ch. 1994		 Strawberry Road (AUS)
Estrapade (Family 23-b)

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.

gollark: Coast is hard.
gollark: Me too!
gollark: The way the raffle works now is that you can just claim your prize during the month.
gollark: The chances are slightly better than *that*.
gollark: (I mean, it's ridiculously unlikely, but you know)

References
  1. "Gormley Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. "Race To Urga Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  3. Andersen, 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. "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. "Chart of the Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  14. https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/kentucky-derby-143-jockey-quotes
  15. "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
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