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Albert The Great
He
ran the fastest mile and a quarter by a 3-year-old
in New York history. He sped the fastest mile
and an eighth in Florida racing history. He earned
$3,012, 490, largely accumulated in Graded stakes
competition. And he retires to stud absolutely
sound, having made 22 starts in 21 months' time,
while displaying a continued zest for racing.
He's Albert the Great, record-breaking New York
Grade I winner by a Kentucky Derby winner, out
of a triple stakes producer. And he will stand
his first season in 2002.
A Grade I performer every year he raced, Albert
the Great ranked among the top runners of his
generation at three and at four. As a 3-year-old,
he defeated all that year's Classic winners, as
well as the reigning Horse of the Year. He also
beat older champion Lemon Drop Kid every time
they met, Classic winner Red Bullet both times
they met, and Breeders' Cup Classic winner Cat
Thief the only time they squared off.
Frequently giving away significant amounts of
weight, Albert the Great was on the board 19 times
in 21 starts including the Breeders' Cup Classic-G1,
Travers S.-G1, Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1, Woodward
S.-G1, Whitney H.-G1, Donn H.-G1, and Pimlico
Special-G1.
In October of his 3-year-old year, Albert the
Great raced into history, winning the $1,000,000
Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1 by six lengths in 1:59
1/5, largest winning margin to that time at the
10 furlong distance. So popular was Albert the
Great's victory, that racing historian Steve Haskin
wrote: "a thunderous ovation exploded from
the grandstand, unlike anything heard in New York
since Secretariat's Belmont."
In July 2001, The Blood-Horse tabbed Albert "The
Beast of Belmont" after he wired his fields
with back-to-back victories in the Brooklyn-G2
and Suburban-G2, his sixth win in seven career
starts at Belmont Park. In nine starts at Belmont,
his average Beyer Speed Figure was 109, and he
posted 119's there two years in a row.
Yet, if a horse's career were judged on just two
races, Albert the Great would have two outstanding
ones to be assessed - the 2000 Jockey Club Gold
Cup and 2001 Widener Handicap. His incredible
final times in those races stand out above anything
else.
First, there is his 1:59 and 1/5 in the Jockey
Club Gold Cup. This is the fastest 10 furlongs
ever run by a 3-year-old in New York. That sentence
covers a lot of hallowed ground, as Hall of Fame
members Buckpasser, Damascus, Nashua, Holy Bull,
and Native Dancer posted some of their best efforts
at 1 1/4 miles in New York.
Then, there is his Track Record 1:45 and 2/5 in
the 2001 Widener at Hialeah. This is the fastest
nine furlongs ever run on dirt in South Florida.
The previous Hialeah record was 1:46 1/5, set
in 1986. And Gulfstream's best time was 1:46 2/5,
set in 1979. Champions and/or Hall of Fame members
Unbridled, Spectacular Bid, Forego, Northern Dancer,
Swale, Alydar, Bold Ruler, Nashua, Thunder Gulch
all ran nine furlongs in South Florida-and none
came within one second of Albert's great time.
Albert the Great is the third foal, third stakes
winner from Classic mare Bright Feather, by speed
influence Fappiano. His second dam is a five-time
stakes winner, and his third dam, by Buckpasser,
is a triple Graded stakes producer.
Albert the Great is yet another top dirt runner
from the important Ribot sire line. He joins previous
stars like Graustark, Hoist the Flag, Key to the
Mint, Pleasant Colony, and Tom Rolfe, all of which
accomplished tremendous success at stud. He's
out of a mare by Fappiano, who has worked exceptionally
well with inbreeding to his sire, Mr. Prospector,
and has a second dam by Vice Regent, the sire
of Deputy Minister. There aren't any weak links
in his pedigree, as his next two dams are by Buckpasser
and Sir Gaylord (important sire and a half-brother
to Secretariat).
Mares by A. P. Indy, Capote, Chief's Crown, Dixieland
Band, Gone West, Seattle Slew, Seeking the Gold,
Slew o' Gold, Storm Cat, Woodman, and mares by
sons of Nijinsky II would appear to be the most
compatible for Albert the Great, pedigree-wise.
So, what do breeders look for in a stallion prospect?
Certainly, high speed, stamina, lineage, and good
looks. But more and more today, they need an outcross.
Albert the Great is a complete outcross , and
Daily Racing Form called Albert the Great "a
dream stallion prospect," noting that all
eight sires in his four-generation pedigree are
chefs de race, while his Dosage Profile "suggests
a horse with excellent speed who can carry it
a classic distance with no problem."
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