- Closing Argument (horse)
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Closing Argument Sire Successful Appeal Grandsire Valid Appeal Dam Mrs. Greeley Damsire Mr. Greeley Sex Stallion Foaled 2002 Country United States Colour Bay Breeder France & Irwin J. Weiner Owner Philip & Marcia Cohen Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin Record 9: 3-3-2 Earnings US$986,984 Major wins Holy Bull Stakes (2005)
American Classic Race placing:
Kentucky Derby 2nd (2005)Horse (Equus ferus caballus) Closing Argument (born April 4, 2002 in Florida) is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse. The son of Successful Appeal really turned out to be a game colt in the spring of 2005. After winning the 2005 Holy Bull Stakes and finishing third in the Blue Grass Stakes, his connections chose to run him in the Kentucky Derby.
Triple Crown races
On May 7, 2005 trainer Kiaran McLaughlin opted to run the colt in the Kentucky Derby. Unfortuneately the public didn't buy in and Closing Argument went off as the longest shot on the board at 72:1 odds. At the start he broke from gate 18 and bobbled while drifting out but managed to be in sixth right behind the leaders as they passed the grandstand for the first time. Around the first turn he was pushed out nine wide. Down the backstretch and going into the final turn he inched up to fourth making his way closer to the rail. Around that turn he was in the four path and sprinted into first at the top of the stretch. Jockey Cornelio Velasquez gave him a perfect ride but 100 yards from the wire Giacamo closed from out of the clouds and beat Closing Argument by a half length. It was less than an another half length back to eventual Elipse Award Champion Afleet Alex in third.
In the second leg of the Triple Crown, Closing Argument was respected a little more with as the fourth favorite in a capacity crowd of 14 at odds of only 7:1. In the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course he chased the pace just off the leaders as he did in the Derby in fifth. But at the seven furlong mark he faded from contention and finished ninth behind Afleet Alex and seven others.
He was retired for 2006 with a record of 3-3-2 in nine career starts and earnings of $986,984. Closing Argument stood at stud at Sequel Stallion in Ocala, Florida until 2008 when he was moved to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Lexington, Kentucky.
References
Categories:- 2002 racehorse births
- Thoroughbred racehorses
- Northern Dancer bloodline
- Racehorses bred in Florida
- Racehorses trained in the United States
- American racehorses
- Racehorse stubs
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