Gulch (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Gulch


caption =
sire = Mr. Prospector
grandsire = Raise a Native
dam = Jameela
damsire = Rambunctious
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1984
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour = Dark Bay
breeder = Peter M. Brant
owner = Peter M. Brant
trainer = LeRoy Jolley
D. Wayne Lukas
record = 32: 13-8-4
earnings = $3,015,521
race = Hopeful Stakes (1986)
Futurity Stakes (1986)
Saratoga Special Stakes (1986)
Tremont Stakes (1986)
Wood Memorial (1987)
Bay Shore Stakes (1987)
Metropolitan Handicap (1988)
Carter Handicap (1988)
Potrero Grande Handicap (1988)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Sprint (1988)
awards= U.S. Outstanding Sprint Horse (1988)
honours =
updated= September 10, 2007

Gulch (foaled April 16, 1984 in Kentucky) was an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. Owned and bred by Peter M. Brant, he was sired by the outstanding North American stud and graded stakes race winner Mr. Prospector out of the Rambunctious mare, Jameela.

Guided by Hall of Fame trainer, LeRoy Jolley, Gulch was a precocious two-year-old, winning the Grade I Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course with Angel Cordero, Jr. astride by 3 1/2 lengths.

He was undefeated that year going into the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, having won five starts in New York, but placed a disappointing fifth to Capote, behind Alysheba and Bet Twice.

At three, prepping for the Kentucky Derby, Gulch won the Wood Memorial with Jose Santos aboard, along with the Grade II Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Ridden by Willie Shoemaker in the 1987 Kentucky Derby however, he raced wide in the stretch and never seemed to catch fire, placing an uninspiring sixth behind Alysheba. He placed third in the Belmont Stakes, in front of Alysheba but behind the winner, his old rival, Bet Twice.

Racing at four in 1988, he was transferred to trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas shortened most of his races to 1 1/8 mile or less and Gulch came into his own. He won the Metropolitan Handicap, the Carter Handicap, and, in a battle of the sexes, placed a very close second in the Whitney Handicap to Personal Ensign. He went on late that fall to win the Breeders' Cup Sprint and by the end of 1988 was named U.S. Outstanding Sprint Horse.

Retirement

Retired in 1989, Gulch stands at stud at Lane's End Farm for a fee of $30,000 live foal as of 2007.

His progeny have been outstanding. They include $4 million winner Eagle Cafe, Nayef, 1995 U.S. Champion 3-Yr-Old Colt Thunder Gulch, The Cliff's Edge, and Brave Tender.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/gulch Pedigree & Partial Stats]
* [http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/stallion-directory/stallion.aspx?stallion_no=980222 TB Times Stallion Directory Gulch]