Allen E. Paulson and his household are little question greatest identified in Thoroughbred racing for proudly owning the nice champion Cigar, one of many sport’s most sensible males.
But the Paulsons’ secure additionally had a wonderful stretch of success with fillies and mares. Allen and his spouse, Madeleine, raced a powerful of checklist of distaff champions that included Eliza (1992, 2-year-old filly), Ajina (1997, 3-year-old filly), Escena (1998, champion older feminine), and Estrapade (1986, turf feminine).
The very best of these fabulous fillies, although, raced after Allen’s loss of life in July 2000.
Bred by Allen E. Paulson and racing below the identify of the Allen E. Paulson Dwelling Belief, Azeri debuted on Nov. 1, 2001 in a maiden race at Santa Anita Park.
By the point her profession got here to an finish after the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Basic, Azeri had 17 wins in 24 begins and at 70.8% sported a good higher profession successful share than the mighty Cigar (19 of 33, 57.5%). She additionally had earnings of $4,079,820 which stood because the all-time greatest complete for a feminine till Zenyatta got here round, and in 2010 would be a part of Cigar as the 2 Corridor of Famers who names have been completely linked to Paulson.
Azeri could not have gained 16 straight races like Cigar, however like him, she set requirements of excellence few horses have ever matched.
Michael Paulson, Allen’s son, headed the household’s racing operation on the time of Azeri’s first race. Little was anticipated from the homebred daughter of Jade Hunter as she made her belated profession debut close to the tip of her 3-year-old season. She was despatched off at 17-1 odds in a discipline of 9, however a six-length victory modified any and all impressions as Azeri gained impressively at first asking for coach Laura de Seroux and common rider Mike Smith, masking six furlongs in a really fleet 1:08.82.
A pair of allowance wins adopted, however Azeri’s stakes debut resulted in a runner-up end to Summer time Colony within the 2002 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita.
The loss stung, however what got here subsequent resurrected reminiscences of Cigar. Azeri reeled off 11 straight wins, taking 4 straight Grade 1 stakes: the Santa Margarita, Apple Blossom, Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap, and Vainness Handicap. Wins within the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch and Woman’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap adopted and set the stage for her coronation within the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Despatched off because the 9-5 favourite, Azeri romped by 5 lengths to safe not simply an Eclipse Award because the yr’s champion older feminine but additionally the title of 2002 Horse of the Yr for the Paulsons and de Seroux.
Azeri continued her successful methods in 2003, taking the Apple Blossom, Milady, Vainness, and Hirsch, however in her remaining prep for the Breeders’ Cup she completed second as a 1-5 favourite within the Woman’s Secret at Santa Anita. A tendon harm found later marked a untimely finish to a marketing campaign that may be rewarded with a second straight Eclipse Award as the very best older feminine.
De Seroux wished to retire her, however Michael Paulson believed she might return to the races and introduced in D. Wayne Lukas to take over her coaching.
In April 2004, Azeri made her comeback within the Apple Blossom, however the harm and the talk about her retirement created doubts about her capabilities. She was dismissed as simply the third alternative in a discipline of six.
She as soon as once more ran like a champion, although, successful by a size and a half for her third triumph in as many tries within the Oaklawn Park Grade 1 take a look at.
The remainder of 2004 was not as glimmering as 2003 and 2002 have been, but regardless that she gained simply two of her subsequent seven races, she nonetheless turned the primary distaff runner to be named the champion older feminine in three straight years.
“When [Azeri] was on prime of the world, she was on prime of the world. She was wonderful. She did all the things we requested of her,” Smith mentioned in 2010 after Azeri was voted into the Corridor of Fame.
Her remaining begin got here within the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Basic when she completed fifth behind Ghostzapper.
But if there was a race that fall which encapsulated all the things about her, it got here one begin earlier within the Spinster Stakes. In Keeneland’s Grade 1 basic for distaff runners, Azeri was despatched off as a heavy 2-5 favourite and drew off to win decisively by three lengths.
It didn’t occur on a regular basis in 2004, however on that October day, Azeri reminded everybody that Cigar was not the one the Corridor of Fame runner to sport the Paulsons’ crimson, white, and blue colours.
There was additionally a filly who was each bit as worthy as him of the mantle of a champion.
Editor’s Notice: This story initially was revealed in 2014 and has been up to date.
Enjoyable Information About Azeri
- Azeri and Zenyatta are the one horses to obtain an Eclipse Award because the champion older feminine in three straight years.
- Allen E. Paulson, an aviator, named Azeri after a checkpoint for airways in Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Azeri was purchased again by Paulson for $110,000 on the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale.
- Oaklawn Park, the place Azeri gained the Apple Blossom 3 times, is now residence to the Azeri Stakes.
- Azeri was offered as a broodmare for $2.25 million to Japanese pursuits on the 2009 Keeneland November breeding inventory sale.
- Azeri was the third feminine to be named Horse of the Yr, following All Alongside and Woman’s Secret. Rachel Alexandra (2009), Zenyatta (2010), Havre de Grace (2011), and Thorpedo Anna (2024) would subsequently be a part of them.
