Memories of Lost in the Fog

2005 was an amazing year for horse racing. We had a big upset in the Derby with Giacomo, a remarkable Preakness where Afleet Alex went to his knees only to come back to win that, but the Belmont as well, Commentator won the first of his 2 Whitneys, Makybe Diva won her third Melbourne Cup, Stevie Wonderboy upset First Samurai and Henny Hughes in the BC Juvenile, Saint Liam and Flower Alley would have an epic duel in the Classic, Lava Man began his mythological descent to the top, the big names in the 2007 class (Street Sense, Hard Spun, Curlin, Rags to Riches, Any Given Saturday, Octave, Zenyatta, etc) where yearlings, and Barbaro won the Laurel Futurity. However, there was a horse who captured hearts of many not only through his races, but through his final weeks while battling cancer. Of course I'm talking about about Lost in the Fog.

Born February 4th, 2002 in Florida, the Lost Solider colt out of the Dr. Carter mare Cloud Break had a funky looking blaze that was not perfectly centered. He originally sold for $13,000 in a weanling, and the $48,000 as a yearling, he RNA'ed in the OBS March sale with a stopping bid of $195,000. He was eventually privately sold for $140,000 to Harry Aleo and sent to trainer Greg Gilchrist in California.

On November 14th, 2004, Lost in the Fog made his first start at 5 furlongs at Golden Gate Fields. Sent off as the post time favorite, he did not disappoint by leading under Russell Baze winning the race by 7 1/2 lengths on a muddy track. He would make one more start as a 2yo in the Arizona Juvenile where he would win by 14 3/4 lengths and setting a six and half furlong track record of 1:13.55 that remains standing to this day.

It was off to take on the best of the east to begin his 3yo season. First up, a trip to Gulfstream in Florida for the 3yo Sunshine Millions race, the Ocala Stud Dash. He didn't win by as much this time, just 4 1/2 lengths. However, finishing second in the race was Santana Strings would win the Amsterdam later on in the year. Next up would be the Swale Stakes at seven furlongs also at Gulfstream. Once again he would humble the opposition by winning by 4 1/2 lengths.



After the Swale, there where rumblings on weather or not he was going to be nominated to the Triple Crown. Eventually the decision was to keep him sprinting for now. His pedigree suited it more anyway. He would make a start on Wood Memorial day though in the Bay Shore where only him and the runner up where in single digit odds. He shortened up for his next race at 6 furlongs, but it was in front of his hometown crowd at Golden Gate in the Golden Bear. Only 2 other horses showed up to run against him, one of them Olympic Miler had already been humbled by him in his maiden win. For the first time this season he won by double digit lengths finishing 10 lengths ahead of the runner up. It was back to NY for his next race, he would be running in the Riva Ridge on the Belmont undercard. Many people thought this is where he might have his first loss as Egg Head, an up and comer was also entered. He had just won the Jock Labelle at Delaware and was transferred to former D. Wayne Lukas asst. Kiaran McLaughlin. It also didn't help Foggy (as he was affectionately called by fans) that Russell was injured. In the race he would be ridden by Edgar Prado who the year before had denied Smarty Jones the Triple Crown with Birdstone and two years before that had denied War Emblem the Triple Crown with Sarava. While Lost in the Fog was challenged, like the rest of his races he was across the wire first.



By now, Lost in the Fog is a household name and it's back to Florida for his next race. This time, at Calder for their Summit of Speed card where he decimated the field with Russell Baze back on his back in the Carry Back. Because of the limited amount of 3yo only G1 sprint stakes, Foggy did not make his first G1 start until August. That would be at the Saratoga for the King's Bishop. Sadly though, Egg Head who had gave him all he could handle in the Riva Ridge had passed away. In the race though was Santana Strings and Fusaichi Rockstar, a full brother to Wild Fit who later that day would win the Del Mar Debutante. Once again, Foggy would not be denied putting on the afterburners and just coasting to the wire.



He needed a start before taking on the best older sprinters in the country, he made one last stop. That was to Bay Meadows for their new race, the Bay Meadows Speed Handicap. He once again would pull away from his opponents showing that he was by far the best of the west when it came to sprinting.



Then it was time, the Breeders' Cup Sprint. All of the pressure was on him and there was a slight possibly that he had a chance at 3yo honors and possibly even Horse of the Year. In the stretch it looked like that he was going to fulfill his destiny and win the race. Something went wrong though, he started to fade back. The winner of the race Silver Train was ridden by Edgar Prado, who of course won the Riva Ridge on Foggy earlier in the year. Any chance of a 3yo Championship was gone after Flower Alley.

Even with the loss in January 2006, Foggy was honored with Champion Sprinter honors over finalists Saratoga County who passed away before facing him, and the aforementioned Silver Train. Foggy was also a finalist for Horse of the Year with Afleet Alex with both of them losing to Saint Liam.

After a little bit of R & R in Florida, Lost in the Fog returned to the track and Golden Gate where had dominated. Still something was off in the Golden Gate Sprint he would finish 3 lengths behind the winner Carthage in April of 2006. Two months later though it seemed that all was well when at Churchill he defeated Kelly's Landing in the Aristides. Little did we know that would be his final win in his career. In what turned out to be his final race, he finished ninth in the Smile behind Nightmare Affair. 

In August of 2006, while Barbaro was fighting for his life at New Bolton, horse racing fans had another fan favorite to worry about. Lost in the Fog was sent to UC-Davis after showing signs of colic. Turned out to be much, much worse. The sprinter who gave us all lots of thrills was in the fight for his life. He was battling an inoperable tumor. Greg and Harry would try to keep him comfortable as long as possible. On Septemeber 17, 2006 the pain was too much, Foggy was euthanized. While he lost his brave battle with cancer when the results of the necropsy came in, it turned out that the cancer had been growing for several months. It could even be possible he could have been running with it in the BC Sprint. 

Lost in the Fog is buried at Golden Gate Fields along with Silky Sullivan. In 2007, Golden Gate began a 2yo stakes race in his honor. Russell Baze has won this race twice in 2009 with Smiling Tiger and in 2010 with Road Ready. Harry Aleo would pass away almost a 1 1/2 years after Foggy did and on May 5th, 2010, Greg Gilchrist retired from training going out winner when Island of Zen won at Hollywood Park.


While there where great sprinters before him, and will be great sprinters after him, there won't be a horse like he was. He was very special to too many people and hopefully when another flashy 3yo sprinting sensation comes around, they will be simlar to Lost in the Fog.

Bibliography:

Cancer Claims Sprint Champion Lost in the Fog. Thoroughbred Times, 18 Sept. 2006. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2006/september/18/cancer-claims-sprint-champion-lost-in-the-fog.aspx>.

Arrington, Debbie. "BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News." Fog's Cancer Extensive, Necropsy Reveals. Bloodhorse, 20 Oct. 2006. Web. 07 June 2012. <http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/35873/fogs-cancer-extensive-necropsy-reveals>.