In a race that featured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner (War Emblem), the Belmont runner up (Medaglia d' Oro), the beaten Derby favorite (Harlan's Holiday), the Euro (Hawk Wing), and the up and coming fan favorites (Evening Attire and Perfect Drift)... none of them would be the eventual winner. That honor went to the Cryptoclearnce colt Volponi. Trained by P.G. Johnson and ridden by Jose Santos, Volponi was coming off a second place finish in the Meadowlands Cup. He'd been having an okay year before that winning the Poker, before finishing either second or third in his supsquent starts.
Going off as by far the longest shot on the board, Volponi and Santos sat in fifth for a good portion of the race. By the time they hit the mile pole they where in second and drew away in the end leaving Medaglia d' Oro and Milwaukee Brew in their wake. It would be the second biggest upset in the Classic ever. Less then a year later of course Jose would win the Derby on Funny Cide. With Medagalia d' Oro and War Emblem defeated, Azeri became the first filly to win Horse of the Year honors since Lady's Secret. War Emblem would be Champion 3yo Male and Medagalia d' Oro would be shut out of the awards (Older Male Champion Left Bank sadly passed away before Breeders' Cup of colic). Here is a video of the race:
Volponi would never win another race, his final start was defence try in the Classic, but he and Jose finished last (right behind Funny Cide and fill in jock Julie Krone). Volponi started his stud career in Kentucky at Hopewell Farm, but was sent to Korea two years afterwards and is having success there. We all know what Medagalia d' Oro has sired (Rachel, Gabby, Warrior, C.S., Champagne, Plum etc.), and Milwaukee Brew has sired Ginger Brew who won the Woodbine Oaks and was very close second in the Queen's Plate along with Milwaukee Appeal, also a Woodbine Oaks winner. MDO stands at Darley and Milwaukee Brew stands in Adena's Canadian farm.
Here's a post about Volponi's success so far in Korea.
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