Azeri (horse)

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Azeri

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After her retirement.
Sire: Jade Hunter
Dam: Zodiac Miss
Damsire: Ahonoora
Sex: Mare
Foaled: 1998
Country: USA
Colour: Chestnut
Breeder: Allen E. Paulson
Owner: Michael Paulson
Trainer: Laura de Seroux
D. Wayne Lukas
Record: 24:17-4-0
Earnings: $4,079,820
Major Racing Wins & Honours & Awards
Major Racing Wins
Breeders' Cup Distaff (2002)
Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (2002)
Apple Blossom Handicap (2002. 2003, 2004)
Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (2002, 2003)
Vanity Handicap (2002, 2003)
Go For Wand Handicap (2004)
Spinster Stakes (2004)
Racing Awards
Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year (2002)
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Female Horse (2002, 2003, 2004)

Infobox last updated on: September 17, 2006.

Azeri is a thoroughbred racehorse by the great sire Mr. Prospector's son, Jade Hunter (winner of the gr.1 Donn Handicap and the gr.1 Gulfstream Park Handicap). She is the only starter out of the Ahonoora mare, Zodiac Miss. She's also out of the family of the 1999 Breeders' Cup Mile winner, the French horse, Silic.

Born in Versailles, Kentucky in 1998, Azeri was bred by Allen E. Paulson of Brookside Farms, an aerospace magnate whose many global investments included racehorses, casinos and oil exploration. Paulson also bred and raced Cigar, who earned over ten million dollars, more money than any other horse in the history of racing.

Azeri was purchased for $110,000 at the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Jonabell Farm and trained by Laura de Seroux, one of the few women trainers in a man's world. Of her greatest horse, Seroux said, "She didn't let anyone down, and she did it in great style. She's simply the fastest filly in the world now. You can't catch her early, and you can't catch her late."

Allen Paulson died before he knew who Azeri would turn out to be, but his son Michael took over his father's role in her racing life.

Out of 24 starts, she won 17 and placed in 4. When she was awarded the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, she was only the third female to win since the voting began in 1971, 35 years ago as of this writing - 2006. The other two female winners were All Along in 1983 and Lady's Secret in 1986. Both of these had defeated males, though Azeri did not. But this in no way dimmed the enthusiasm of her judges.

Contents

[edit] Azeri at the races

  • At Five (2003)
    • 1st. Apple Blossom Handicap, G1
    • 1st. Milady BCH, G1
    • 1st. Vanity Handicap, G1
    • 1st. Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, G2
    • 2nd. Lady's Secret BCH, G2

[edit] Awards and Honors

Enlarge

Azeri has earned more purse money than any other female in the history of North American thoroughbred racing—$4,079,820.

[edit] Azeri under Lukas

Azeri suffered a tendon injury while going for her 12th straight win in the Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita. Her courage carried her to a second place finish that day, but for quite a while all were certain she would not race again. Laura de Seroux recommended that she be retired, but Michael Paulson, after careful consideration, decided she could and would race again. At this point, he turned her training over to the Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas.

In her first start for her new trainer, six months after her injury, Azeri blew into the finish line of the Apple Blossom. It was her third consecutive Apple Blossom Handicap, a feat no other filly had ever managed. But then she lost three races in a row. Once more people thought she was through. But Lucas entered her into the Go for Wand Handicap at Saratoga Race Course, where she would come up against the multiple grade one winner Sightseek. These two great mares came into the stretch together as the track announcer, Tom Durkin, yelled, “At the top of the stretch it's the two best mares in America”. Azeri hit the wire nearly two lengths ahead of Sightseek.

[edit] Azeri now

Azeri retired from racing in December, 2004. In her first attempt at breeding in Kentucky, she proved barren to Storm Cat for 2005, but she is in foal to A.P. Indy for 2006.

[edit] Trivia

  • Azeri was named by Allen Paulson for an aviation checkpoint in Baku.
  • She has a race named for her, the Azeri Breeder’s Cup at Arkansas's Oaklawn Park for four-year-olds & up, either male or female. In 2006, Round Pond won, Happy Ticket placed, and Platinum Ballet came in third.

[edit] References

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