Dapper Dan (horse)

Dapper Dan
Sire	Ribot
Grandsire	Tenerani
Dam	So Chic
Damsire	Nasrullah
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1962
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Dorothy Dorsett Brown
Owner	Ogden Phipps
Record	24: 5-6-1
Earnings	US$112,102
Major wins
American Classic Race placing: Kentucky Derby 2nd (1965) Preakness Stakes 2nd (1965)
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

Dapper Dan (foaled 1962 in Kentucky) was an American racehorse. Bred by Dorothy Dorsett Brown, owned and raced by Ogden Phipps. He had an outstanding sophomore season finishing second or fourth in five different stakes races. The son of Ribot and grandson of Nasrullah ^[1] will be remember most for his two thrilling closing finishes in the 1965 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in which placed second in both classics.

Racing career

As a three-year-old, Dapper Dan became the ultimate bridesmaid placing second in three of his first four stakes races that spring. In March Dapper Dan finished second in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Then Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes.

The colt ran well on the first Saturday of May in the 1965 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. In that race he faded to near the back of the pack early and closed with a mad rush and finished second to Lucky Debonair. In that race he ran the last quarter mile in track record time of 23-1/5 seconds. That record stood until Secretariat's :23 flat in 1973.

In the second leg of the U.S. Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes. Dapper Dan went off as fifth choice at 7:1 in a strong field of ten three year-old colts. He broke from gate eight and settled far back in the field laying in seventh place going into the clubhouse turn at Pimlico Race Course. Dapper Dan continued to make up ground after three furlongs and moved up to fourth at the top of the stretch. Dapper Dan was making a huge rush closing with every stride and took inside position next to the rail. The leader Tom Rolfe veered into Dapper Dan's path after heavy right handed whips by jockey Ron Turcotte. At about the sixteenth pole the leaders brushed slightly. That contact allowed Tom Rolfe the ability to hold off Dapper Dan by a decreasing neck. Dapper Dan's jockey I. Valenzuela lodged an objection against Turcotte and Tom Rolfe for intimidation. The stewards did not agree and upheld the natural finish with Tom Rolfe in first, Dapper Dan in second and four lengths back Hail to All finished third.

Three weeks later Dapper Dan finished fourth to Hail To All in the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in New York.

Four year-old season

Continuing his string of strong finishes as a four year-old Dapper Dan finished third to Davis 2nd in April 1966 in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack. Then on Memorial Day Dapper Dan finished fourth in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park to Bold Lad.

References

1. ^ Dapper Dan's pedigree and partial racing stats

• Dapper Dan's pedigree and partial racing stats