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The 2003 races

A recap of the 5 year old campaign

Race 1  6/14/03 at Belmont

A long, tough 4 year old campaign takes its toll on EA. As a result, it is nearly 7 months before he returns to the races. He is rusty and finishes 4th in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap.

 
Race 2 7/5/03 at Belmont
 
3 weeks after his return, he faces the best in the Grade 1 Suburban Handicap,
including eventual horse of the year Mineshaft. But he is still flat, and finishes 5th, his worse finish in 21 months.
 
 
Race 3 7/23/03 at the Spa
 
After facing very tough competition in his last, Pat Kelly gives EA a breather as he runs in an allowance. EA also catches a big break, as due to the poor weather, the race is taken off the turf. As a result, he draws off to win by 6 3/4 lengths.
 
 
Race 4 8/2/03 at the Spa
 
After his easy allowance win, its back to the big time in the Grade 1 Whitney. Although he only gets 3rd, there is no shame in finishing 2 1/2 back of Medagliad'Oro and Volponi.
 
 
Race 5 8/25/03 at the Spa
 
The Saratoga faithful get to see EA run for the 3rd time at the meet. He does not disappoint, and wins an allowance race. He finishes the Spa meet with an impressive 2 wins and a show.
 
 
Race 6 9/27/03 at Belmont
 
EA tries to defend his title in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. But he is up against Mineshaft, who wins the race to lock up horse of the year. EA manages to finish 3rd, his second straight in the money finish in a Grade 1, and 4th in a row overall.
 
 
Race 7 10/25/03 at Santa Anita
 
In his only appearance in California, EA goes off as the longest shot on the board at 25-1 in the Breeders Cup Classic. While he only finishes 7th, he still manages to beat out Ten Most Wanted, Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, and last years BC winner Volponi. This would be the first of 9 meetings between EA and Funny Cide.
 
 
Race 8 11/28/03 at Churchill Downs
 
His only appearance at the home of the Kentucky Derby leads to his only disqualification. He drifts out in the stretch, and despite winning the race he is placed second in the biggest race of the fall meet, the Grade 2 Clark Handicap.
 
 
Race 9 12/13/03 at the Big A
 
Its back to the home field for EA in the Grade 3 Queens County Handicap, a race he won in 2001. A good stretch run gets him 2nd place, missing by 1 1/2 lengths. Despite missing the 1st half of the year, he matches last years total with 9 starts, this time in only 6 months, once again proving how tough he is.

Date

Track

Race #

Condition

Distance

EA's Time

Race Type

Post Position

Finish

Won/Lost By

Jockey

Odds

Winner

Field Size

6/14/2003

Belmont

9

Sloppy

1m1/8

1:49.20

Brooklyn H G2

4

4

8

Bridgmohan, S

3-1

Iron Deputy

5

7/5/2003

Belmont

9

Fast

1m1/4

2:03.14

Suburban H G1

4

5

9.25

Bridgmohan, S

7-1

Mineshaft

8

7/23/2003

Saratoga

8

Good

1m1/8

1:50.16

Allowance

2

1

6.34

Prado, E

1-1 favorite

Evening Attire

6

8/2/2003

Saratoga

9

Fast

1m1/8

1:48.07

Whitney H G1

4

3

2.25

Guidry, M

9-1

Medaglia d'Oro

7

8/25/2003

Saratoga

7

Fast

1m1/8

1:48.41

Allowance

4

1

1.25

Guidry, M

7-10 favorite

Evening Attire

6

9/27/2003

Belmont

10

Fast

1m1/4

2:01.44

Jockey Club G1

4

3

7

Guidry, M

7-1

Mineshaft

5

10/25/2003

Santa Anita

9

Fast

1m1/4

2:01.88

BC Classic G1

1

7

11.75

Velazquez, J

25-1

Pleasantly Perfect

10

11/28/2003

Churchill

11

Sloppy

1m1/8

1:52.42

Clark H G2

7

2

won; DQ'd

Velasquez, C

5-2 favorite

Quest

14

12/13/2003

Aqueduct

8

Fast

1m3/16

1:56.16

Queens Co H G3

2

2

1.5

Bridgmohan, S

1-1 favorite

Thunder Blitz

6

Honoring one of the toughest race horses ever