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.
