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Piggybacking onto the post and discussion from yesterday regarding horses that have won graded stakes on multiple surfaces; I've gone back and done a bit of research and compiled a list of horses that have accomplished that feat since 2006 (which is about the start of the "Synthetic Era"...Keeneland made the switch that fall, so I figured that's probably a good starting point).
Since the beginning of 2006, seven horses have won graded stakes race on three different surfaces. Lava Man we already know about; he's also the only one to win a Grade 1 on all three. The others on the list were, for me, somewhat surprising, especially when you throw in this little fact: since 2006, only two horses have won graded stakes on three different surfaces in the same year. Quick, take a guess at which two horses have accomplished that feat in the last five years. Here's a hint, Lava Man isn't one of them.
Give up? In the last five years the only two horses to win graded stakes on three surfaces in the same year are Panty Raid and River's Prayer. Yeah, I would have never guessed those two.
Below are horses that have won a graded stakes race on three different surfaces in the United States since 2006 (Woodbine is not included because...well, I forgot to get them in there).
Lava Man
3/4/06 - G1 Santa Anita Handicap (Dirt - SA)
6/10/06 - G1 Whittingham (Turf - HOL)
7/8/06 - G1 Hollywood Gold Cup (Dirt - HOL)
8/20/06 - G1 Pacific Classic (Dirt - DMR)
10/7/06 - G1 Goodwood (Dirt - OSA)
3/3/07 - G1 Santa Anita Handicap (Dirt - SA)
6/30/07 - G1 Hollywood Gold Cup (Synthetic -HOL)
General Quarters
2/14/09 - G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes (Dirt - TAM)
4/11/09 - G1 Blue Grass (Synthetic - KEE)
5/1/10 - G1 Woodford Reserve Turf (Turf - CD)
Einstein (BRZ)
2/25/06 - G1 Gulfstream Park Turf (Turf - GP)
3/10/07 - G2 Mervin Muniz (Turf - FG)
2/23/08 - G1 Gulfstream Park Turf (Turf - GP)
5/3/08 - G1 Woodford Reserve Turf (Turf - CD)
11/28/08 - G2 Clark Handicap (Dirt - CD)
3/7/09 - G1 Santa Anita Handicap (Synthetic - SA)
5/2/09 - G1 Woodford Reserve Turf (Turf - CD)
Monterey Jazz
12/26/07 - G3 Sir Beaufort (Turf - SA)
2/2/08 - G2 Strub Stakes (Synthetic - SA)
4/26/08 - G3 Texas Mile (Dirt - LS)
7/4/09 - G2 American Handicap (Turf - HOL)
Mushka
11/24/07 - G2 Demoiselle (Dirt - AQU)
9/7/09 - G3 Glenn Falls (Turf - SAR)
10/11/09 - G1 Spinster (Synthetic - KEE)
Panty Raid
5/18/07 - G2 Black-Eyed Susan (Dirt - PIM)
7/7/07 - G1 American Oaks (Turf - HOL)
10/7/07 - G1 Spinster (Synthetic - KEE)
River's Prayer
4/15/07 - G3 Las Cienegas (Turf - SA)
7/7/07 - G1 Princess Rooney (Dirt - CRC)
8/17/07 - G3 Rancho Bernardo (Synthetic - DMR)
UPDATED 10/10/10: We have a new arrival to the list after Acoma won the Spinster during the Keeneland Fall Meet.
Acoma
5/31/08 - G3 Dogwood (Dirt - CD)
10/17/08 - G3 Valley View (Turf - KEE)
10/8/08 - G2 Mrs. Revere (Turf - CD)
3/8/09 - G3 Azeri (Dirt - OP)
6/9/09 - G3 Mint Julep (Turf - CD)
11/21/09 - G3 Cardinal Hcp. (Turf - CD)
10/10/10 - G1 Spinster (Synthetic - KEE)
Horses that have won a Grade 1 race on two different surfaces since 2006*:
Blind Luck - Dirt and Synthetic
Cocoa Beach (CHI) - Dirt and Turf
Colonel John - Dirt and Synthetic
Einstein (BRZ) - Synthetic and Turf
Evening Jewel - Synthetic and Turf
Gabby's Golden Gal - Synthetic and Turf
Indian Blessing - Dirt and Synthetic
Informed Decision - Dirt and Synthetic
Intanagroo - Dirt and Synthetic
Lookin At Lucky - Dirt and Synthetic
Midnight Lute - Dirt and Synthetic
Nashoba's Key - Synthetic and Turf
Student Council - Dirt and Synthetic
Tiago - Dirt and Synthetic
Tough Tiz's Sis - Dirt and Synthetic
Ventura - Synthetic and Turf
Zenyatta - Dirt and Synthetic
*Per a comment below, I've added Intangaroo to the multiple Grade 1 winners list. In 2008, Intangaroo won the Santa Monica Handicap on the synthetic at Santa Anita, the Humana Distaff at Churchill and the Ballerina at Saratoga, all Grade 1 races.
Any surprises for you on either of these lists? For me, General Quarters was not a name I was expecting (I had completely forgot that he won the Blue Grass last year). I was also surprised at how close Einstein was to matching Lava Man's record; just a Grade 1 on dirt and he would have accomplished the feat on all three at the highest level. Impressive.
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