Sweetnorthernsaint

Sweetnorthernsaint is a Thoroughbred race horse. A Florida foal of March 2003, he was a top contender for the Triple Crown in 2006. Late in his two-year-old season, he was very hard to handle, so his owners had him gelded. He lost his only start as a two-year-old, finishing 12th in a maiden race on the turf at Colonial Downs.

Three-year-old season

In his three-year-old season, Sweetnorthernsaint trained at Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland for trainer Michael Trombetta. He broke his maiden at Laurel in his first race of the year but was disqualified and placed fourth. He then shipped to Aqueduct Racecourse and won a second higher purse maiden race and then went straight into stakes races. Sweetnorthernsaint broke the stakes record in the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse, winning by ten lengths over his eight rivals. In the Gotham Stakes, his connections tested him by seeing if he could rate. He was too keen early and finished third. At Chicago's speed-favoring Hawthorne Race Course, Sweetnorthernsaint won the $500,000 grade two Illinois Derby by 9 ½ lengths as he blew past pacesetting Mister Triester at the top of the stretch, stamping his ticket for the Kentucky Derby. He completed the 1-1/8-mile assignment in 1 minute and 49 4/5 seconds to earn the winner's share of $300,000 for owners Joseph J. Balsamo and Ted Theos. The race earned him a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, which was the highest recorded that year by a three-year-old.

As the gates opened, Sweetnorthernsaint assumed the role as post-time favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He was close to the lead on a very fast pace. The front-runners burned each other out as the race fell apart. Barbaro, winner of the Florida Derby, won by six lengths as Sweetnorthernsaint faded to sixth in the full field of twenty colts.

Two weeks later in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, Barbaro went off as an odds-on favorite. He broke through the gate prior to the bell and was re-loaded. Less than an eighth mile out of the gate, Barbaro pulled up. Sweetnorthernsaint led for most of the race, but eventual Eclipse champion Bernardini passed him around the far turn and won. Sweetnorthernsaint placed second in front of his home town crowd.

After the Preakness Stakes, Sweetnorthernsaint won an allowance race at Laurel and the Odessa Stakes at Delaware Park.

Older seasons

As a four-year-old (2007), Sweetnorthernsaint won the H. E. Johnson Memorial Handicap at 9 furlongs at his home track, Laurel Park. He also finished second in the grade three National Jockey Club Handicap at 9 furlongs at Hawthorne, the grade three Lone Star Park Handicap in Grande Prairie, Texas, at 8.5 furlongs, and the grade three Hal's Hope Handicap at 8 furlongs at Gulfstream Park.

In 2008, as a five-year-old, Sweetnorthernsaint won the Primal Stakes at Calder Race Course at 8.5 furlongs. As a six-year-old, the gelding won the 2009 edition of the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap at 9 furlongs at Finger Lakes Race Course.

Connections

Sweetnorthernsaint is owned by Joseph Balsamo and Ted Theos and trained by Michael Trombetta. He is ridden by Kent Desormeaux. Sweetnorthersaint was bred in Florida by Eduardo Azpurura.

Breeding

Sweetnorthernsaint is the son of Sweetsouthernsaint, out of the mare Ice Beauty. To date, he has started thirteen times and won six of his races.

Races

References

• NTRA bio
• Sweetnorthernsaint's pedigree and photo