Champion and dual classic king AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet) was represented
by his initial winner on Tuesday when Linda Harding’s Kratisto registered a 25-1
upset of the 7TH race at Delaware Park, rallying from midpack to take the 5
1/2-furlong maiden special weight by a head under Irwin Rosendo. The gray colt
had finished sixth in his debut over the same course on June 29, but improved
for trainer Ferris Allen III to take this heat in a time of 1:05 4/5 over a fast
track. The winner was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and is out of
the multiple Grade 3-placed stakes winner Torch (Risen Star), making him a
half-brother to stakes winner Morine’s Victory (Victory Gallop).
Afleet Alex gained the public’s notice during the run up to the 2005 Kentucky
Derby (G1), but already had the full attention of racing aficionados after
taking his first four starts in easy fashion for trainer Tim Ritchey. After
breaking his maiden by 11 1/4 lengths and taking an allowance by 12 lengths at
Delaware Park, the diminutive colt made his way to Saratoga and proceeded to
dominate his fellow two-year-olds with a 5 1/4-length score in the Sanford S.
(G2) and a quarter-length victory in the Hopeful S. (G1). Given a slight break
following those races, Afleet Alex tasted defeat for the first time when second
by a half-length in the Champagne S. (G1). He ended his juvenile campaign with
another runner-up effort, this time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Lone
Star Park.
Afleet Alex opened his three-year-old account with a return to the winner’s
circle, taking the Mountain Valley S. at Oaklawn Park, and continued his
preparation for the Kentucky Derby at the Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue. His only
off-the-board placing came next out in the Rebel S. (G3), but it was discovered
that Afleet Alex was suffering from a lung infection during that race. He
quickly recovered from the ailment and came back to record a then record-setting
eight-length win in the Arkansas Derby (G2) before a crowd of 71,010, at that
point the second largest in Oaklawn’s history.
With that final prep under his girth, Afleet Alex headed to the Kentucky
Derby and was sent off the 9-2 second choice in the 20-horse field, running
third in a close finish at the wire. The bay colt garnered plenty of attention,
and not just for his racing talents. He was named in honor of Alexandra “Alex”
Scott, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma before her first birthday. Scott
founded Alex’s Lemonade Stand in 2000, opening her first stand at the age of
four, to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Since then, more than $25
million has been raised and donated to research hospitals and facilities
throughout the United States. Sadly, Scott succumbed to the cancer in August
2004 at the age of eight. A portion of Afleet Alex’s earnings goes to the
charity.
Afleet Alex and jockey Jeremy Rose added to the total donated to the charity
when overcoming near disaster to win the Preakness S. (G1) next out. The bay
came flying around the far turn with dead aim on the leader, Scrappy T, who
suddenly bore out in response to extreme left-handed whipping by jockey Ramon
Dominguez. In the blink of an eye, Afleet Alex stumbled to his knees, almost
unseating Rose. The agile colt and his young rider quickly recovered, dove to
the inside of Scrappy T, then charged to a widening 4 3/4-length victory. The
move earned “Play of the Week” honors on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
The Belmont S. (G1) would prove to be Afleet Alex’s final career start, and
came in less dramatic fashion. The colt simply drew away from his rivals in the
stretch, eventually crossing under the line clear by seven lengths. He continued
training but suffered a hairline condylar fracture to his left front leg and was
sidelined for the rest of the summer. Another injury related to the fracture was
discovered later in the year and Afleet Alex was sent to stud with a final
career mark of 12-8-2-1, $2,765,800.
Afleet Alex is out of the winning Maggy Hawk (Hawkster) and is a full brother
to stakes winner and Grade 2-placed Unforgettable Max. Maggy Hawk is herself a
daughter of Qualique (*Hawaii), victress of the 1983 Demoiselle S. (G1). This is
the same family as Italian highweight Vale Mantovani (Wolfhound) and Group 2
winner Bistro Garden (Green Dancer) as well as Grade 3 winners Belgravia (Mr.
Greeley), Island Charm (*Hawaii) and Kilgowan (Smoke Glacken).
The seven-year-old Afleet Alex stands for a $25,000 live foal fee at
Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky.