Behrens gets first winner
Three-time Grade 1 hero and $3.2 million earner BEHRENS (Pleasant
Colony) was represented by his first winner on Thursday when his
two-year-old daughter Sweet Molly Malone captured the 4TH race at
Woodbine by four lengths. The David Cotey-trained bay miss was
ridden by Constant Montpellier and completed the 1 1/16-mile
maiden claiming event in 1:51 over the sloppy track.
Behrens took the Dwyer (G2) and Pegasus H. (G2) at three and
went on to become an excellent handicap performer for trainer
James Bond, winning the 1999 runnings of the Oaklawn H. (G1),
Gulfstream Park H. (G1), Mass ‘Cap (G2) and Suburban H. (G2). He
added a second straight Gulfstream Park H. the following season.
Owned by Rudlein Stable & William Clifton, the bay finished
second in many important events, including the Travers (G1),
Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Whitney H. (G1), Woodward S. (G1),
Donn H. (G1) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).
His 1999 Whitney match-up against champion Victory Gallop is
considered one of the best races of modern times. Both handicap
stars were at their best and hooked up for a tremendous stretch
battle, with Victory Gallop edging his rival by the slimmest of
margins. Victory Gallop never raced again. Behrens won only one
of his next nine starts before retiring. Both horses laid it all
on the line that afternoon at Saratoga.
Behrens earned $3,243,500 from a 27-9-8-3 career mark. The 10-year-old
stallion is out of multiple Grade 3 winner Hot Novel (Mari’s Book),
who finished second in the 1989 Acorn S. (G1).
Behrens stands at Darby Dan Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, for
a $10,000 live foal fee.