Ray of Pye

Ray of Pye started his career in a $10,400 Maiden in which he easily beat fellow debutant Storm Hill by 2¼ lengths. That win was followed with another easy win at allowance level where he lead the entire journey and accounted for the previously undefeated Dance This Away by 2¼ lengths. With two from two, connections decided he had shown enough to take on the better two-year-olds and was entered in the prestigious The Little Ones Juvenile – G2. Starting as the second favourite, Ray of Pye was 7 lengths off the pace early before charging home late to finish 3^rd behind Daneye and Splendor. Not deterred, connections again lined up against Daneye in the Dalesbark Cup – G3, this time Ray of Pye found the extra ½ furlong to his liking and made amends for his last start defeat by downing Daneye by 2¼ lengths.  That win was followed with another in the Up North Juvenile – G3 where he beat a moderate field when recording a career best speed rating of 93. With four wins from his first five starts, Ray of Pye was then given his first taste of Grade 1 level when he was entered in the Nationwide Stakes – G1 over 7 furlongs. Coming out of barrier 1 and carrying the bulk of the punter’s money, Rye of Pye was not his usual self and after being midfield early, struggled to maintain contact with the leaders and finished down the track in 9^th. That was followed with another disappointing effort when he finished 6^th in the Flying Saucer Stakes – G3, where he recoded a career worst speed rating of 68. With two failed runs leading into the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf – G1, Ray of Pye was given little chance by the punters and was sent out at the juicy odds of $11.50. Jumping from the sixth post, Ray of Pye settled just worst than midfield before given a shake up at the 2^nd call where he started to make ground. Tracking arch rival Daneye into the straight, they both looked set to fight out the finish before The Pretender swooped down the outside to draw away and win by 3 lengths; holding on to 2^nd was Daneye just ahead of Ray of Pye ¾ length 3^rd. Ray of Pye rounded out his two-year-old season with a 2^nd behind Golfing Nijinsky in the Open to the World Stakes – G1 and a win at Stakes level at his only attempt on dirt. With the figures of five wins and three placings from ten starts with a career high speed rating of 101 and $431,140 in prize money in the bank, the connections of Ray of Pye were excited about the prospects for three-year-old season.

Ray of Pye opened his three-year-old season with a disappointing 5 of 7 at Stakes level however, regardless of this poor performance the punters elected to send him out as the second pick at $4.70 for his next start in the Owner Restricted Ribot Stakes – G1.  Jumping towards the tail of field, Ray of Pye answered his critics by charging home to collect his first Grade 1 easily by 4 lengths with a 103 speed rating. That was followed with an easy 6½ length win at Stakes level before taking on the cream of the three-year-olds in the Florida Derby – G1. Lining up on dirt for the second time of his career, against a field which included five previous Grade 1 winners including Tower Storm, winner of the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Dirt – G1, and the star filly Dancing Brave, winner of the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly – G1 and three other Grade 1 races, Ray of Pye was facing his toughest test to date. Coming out of post 13 in the fourteen-horse field, Ray of Pye dropped towards the back of the field early before rallying late to finish in 3^rd behind Fusaichi Devil and Tower Storm. After more than proving his ability on dirt last start connections then entered Ray of Pye in the time honoured Corkscrew Stakes – G1. Facing a full field of fourteen runners Ray of Pye showed he would be leading contender for upcoming Bluegrass Derby – G1 when he held on to win from the fast finishing English Castle. With his second Grade 1 in his keeping, Ray of Pye was aiming to make it three when he next stepped out in the Autumn Gold Derby – G1 at Kentucky. Punters elected to send him out as the short priced favourite regardless of the race also attracting Fusaichi Devil and his two-year-old rival Daneye, who were meeting for the first time that season. Coming out of the sixth post, Ray of Pye raced handy early before taking over the lead at the 4½ furlong mark where he went on to record an easy 3 length win.

In a surprise move, his connections then spent him to Australia to contest the Sydney Derby – G1 over 12 furlongs, starting at extremely short odds Ray of Pye could only manage a disappointing 5^th before returning to Kentucky where he was set for Bluegrass Derby – G1. Facing the best of his generation Ray of Pye was sent out as the fourth favourite for the Derby but raced below his best to finish a disappointing 9^th, 26½ lengths of the winners Tower Storm and Unbridled Fury. Many experts believe the trip to Sydney cost Ray of Pye any chance in the Derby and his subsequent failure in the Middle Jewel Stakes – G1 where he again finished behind Unbridled Fury and Tower Storm in 7^th. Returning to turf, Ray of Pye won twice at Stakes level, including a career high speed rating of 117, before again being set for a Grade 1 on dirt. Winning his last two saw punters again put their faith in the horse when he started second favourite to Tower Storm in the Swamp Stakes – G1. Jumping from the outside, Ray of Pye stormed home to finish 2^nd to Seattledancing Joe with Tower Storm floundering back in 9^th. Ray of Pye had a further two starts on dirt at Grade 1 level where he finished 2^nd to Fusaichi Gluch in the Eddie Haskell Stakes – G1 and a disappointing 12^th to King’s Ransom in the Prince’s Knight Stakes – G1. Returning to turf Ray of Pye next started in the Boston Derby – G1 where he finished 2^nd to Goldquester before again having to settle for 2^nd when arch rival Daneye had his measure in the Mospe Cup – G1.

At this point Ray of Pye had faced the starter 16 times during his three-year-old season for six wins including three at Grade 1 level and a further five Grade 1 placings, but still the connections had more in store for their stable star. Facing the starter for the seventeenth time that season, Ray of Pye was to face the older horses for the first time in the Jockey Guild Gold Cup – G1. Jumping straight to the lead from the outside post, Ray of Pye found the older horses too strong at the end and finished 6^th to Teddy’s Slew while yet again finishing in front of the Bluegrass Derby – G1 winner Tower Storm. Coming through his last race in good order his connections decided to push on towards the Breeders Bowl Mile – G1. Jumping from the eighth post Ray of Pye raced handy early before taking the lead as the field entered the straight, running the race of his life, Ray of Pye was drawing on his reserves before being caught late by Hall of Fame inductee Storm Dog. Running a career best speed rating of 121, Ray of Pye failed to hold off the winner by a length with the third place getter a further 5 lengths back. After his amazing effort in the Breeder Bowl Mile – G1, Ray of Pye raced a further four times that season for two minor placings at Stakes level.

Starting his four-year-old season with three wins at Grade 1 level under his belt during the previous season connections had high hopes for the coming season. Opening with a 2^nd at Stakes level, Ray of Pye showed everybody at his second start that he had lost none of his class. Running a career high speed rating of 125, Ray of Pye had an easy time of it in the Ramblings Stakes – G3 winning by 3 ¼ lengths beating Hall of Fame inductee Western Groom and multi-millionaires Cad Crop, Starke Storm, Daneye and High River. That win was followed by a disappointing 7^th of 8 in the Buddy Boy Mile – G2 won by Volotile Nijinsky where the off track may have added to his poor performance. Returning to Stakes level, Ray of Pye made amends for his last start defeat with another easy win against a small field in the Romo Special Stakes. His next assignment was against a moderate field in the Arcade Handicap – G2, jumping just worst than midfield Ray of Pye rallied late to finish 3^rd behind Dynafor Boom and Golfing Nijinsky. After showing improvement in his last start, Ray of Pye was entered into the Sand Castle Fee Duty – G1 where he put in his worst performance of his career in recording a 59 speed rating in finishing 13^th of fourteen.

Even though disappointed, connections disregarded his last effort and continued with their plan of gaining more Grade 1 glory; their faith was quickly repaid when Ray of Pye returned to winning form at his very next start in the All Comers Stakes – G1. After being able to lead the entire journey in his last start connections decided to enter him in the Rising Sun Spring Cup – G1 over the 7 furlongs sprint distance. Surprising his harshest critics, Ray of Pye again raced close to the lead to claim his second Grade 1 for the season beating rivals Daneye and Golfing Nijinsky. He was then returned to route distance in the 10 furlongs Movieland Turf Cup – G1, against a small field of seven wher he again tried to lead the entire journey before being run down to finish 4^th behind Majestic Water. Dropping back in grade Ray of Pye found the King George BB Stakes – G3 an easier assignment when again leading the entire trip to win by 4¼ lengths from Making the Cat and Cad Crop. Continuing with his recent role of pacemaker, Ray of Pye had an easy time in front when he took out the Queens Sam – G2 beating Scab Sal and Volotile Nijinsky. This was followed with a 2^nd in an owner-restricted allowance before being set for the Turf Invaders Stakes – G1, where as second favourite for the 9 furlongs event Ray of Pye tried to lead from wire to post before being caught late to finish 3^rd.  This was followed by a 6^th in the West’s Summer Flash – G1 before an improved effort when 3^rd in the Jack The Man Stakes – G1 behind Volotile Nijinsky and Daneye with Hall of Fame Storm Dog back in 6^th. Ray of Pye’s next start was in the prestigious Canada Mile – G1 where again he meet Volotile Nijinsky and Daneye amongst his eleven rivals; jumping midfield Ray of Pye only plodded throughout to finish 5th beaten by Ghostbuster and Slingblade Edison with Daneye 3^rd.

In an attempt to get Ray of Pye to focus back on the job he was dropped to allowance level where he returned to his early racing pattern to finish strongly over the top of the leaders to win pulling away. With the Breeders Bowl meeting fast approaching, Ray of Pye was prepared with his first start over dirt for the season in the Jockey Guild Gold Cup- G1. Meeting the likes of Hall of Fame inductee I Seek U and the $5 million earner Silverwore for the first time, Ray of Pye surprisingly started as the punters popular elect. Racing handy throughout Ray of Pye finalised his preparation for the Breeders Bowl with a solid 3^rd behind Bird Penguin and Rack Cooter. Having finished 2^nd in the Breeders Bowl Mile – G1 on turf last year and having all bar one of this seasons starts on turf it was a surprise to many when the final fields were drawn with Ray of Pye lining up in the Breeders Bowl Classic – G1 on dirt. Punters again showed their faith in Ray of Pye and sent him out as favourite for the $4 million dollar event; however there was to be no fairytale for his connections and after losing ground at every call finished down the track in 10^th behind Silverwore, Brass Wood and I Seek U. After failing in the Coxless Stakes – G1, Ray of Pye returned to the winners stall in the Jacobsson Stakes – G2 where he was able to hold on to a 2 ¾ length win after getting out to a 7 length lead at the third call. In his final race of the season Ray of Pye was again sent out as the popular elect before finishing 3^rd in the Penn Dash – G1 over 7 furlongs behind Slingblade Edison. As a four-year-old Ray of Pye had 22 starts for eight wins and seven placings including two wins at Grade 1 level to take his career tally to five.

As a five-year-old Ray of Pye was only to have six more career starts before his connections decided to pack him off to stud. Opening his season with an easy 5 length win in the Realistic Bert Stakes with a speed rating of 113 it looked as though Ray of Pye was set for another stellar season. He’s next assignment was in the Buddy Boy Mile – G2 where again he pleased his connections when he finished 3^rd behind Ziklag and Keep the Faith with last years rivals Slingblade Edison and Volotile Nijinsky finishing down the track. Returning to Stakes level, Ray of Pye followed with a disappointing 8^th of 10 in the Wally Emblem Handicap Stakes before a disappointing 11th of 13 in the Crock of Gold Stakes – G1 and 11^th of 12 in the High Lady Cup – G3. The ‘tyedye’ stable made one last attempt to get Ray of Pye back to winning form and entered him into an open allowance.  Starting in the number one post position and facing a field, which included no previous Grade winners, it was obvious to all that Ray of Pye’s best was behind him as he plodded to the line in 9^th trailing the leaders by 18¾ lengths. After much deliberation by the connections Ray of Pye was retired and packed off to stud where it was hoped that he’ll be able to transfer some of his ability to his offspring.

Ray of Pye proved over four seasons that he was able to match it with the best, as a two-year-old he showed a glimpse of what was to come with a 3^rd in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf – G1. During his three-year-old season Ray of Pye delivered on the potential shown by collecting three Grade 1 wins and amassing almost $2 million dollars in prize money for the season. Being one of the best of his generation saw him vying for the title of “Three-Year-Old of the Year”, but Tower Storm with his Bluegrass Derby – G1 success took out the title. Regardless of poor performance in the Derby, Ray of Pye and Tower Storm met on six occasions during the season with Ray of Pye finishing in front of his rival on three of these. In the later stages of his three-year-old season and throughout his four-year-old season, Ray of Pye was continually asked to compete against the very best, meeting and defeating the likes of ‘Hall of Fame’ inductees Storm Dog, I Seek U and Western Groom. Early in his two-year-old season Ray of Pye began a rivalry with the very smart Daneye which would continue for the duration of their careers. Meeting a least once every season they raced, Daneye finished ahead of his arch rival on six occasions of the ten races they contested; however it was as a four-year-old in the $2 million Rising Sun Spring Cup – G1 that was the highlight of the rivalry when Ray of Pye was able to defeat Daneye by 2½ lengths.

Ray of Pye ended his career having won five Grade 1 races and amassing $4.2 million in prize money. Showing his versatility, Ray of Pye was able to collect over a million dollars in prize money in two separate seasons, win over a million dollars on both turf and dirt; and earn a million dollars in both Sprint and Route distance categories.

A future ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee or just a lot of noise I will leave that up to the Committee to decide.

Three Years Old             22                     6          6          2                      $1,968,850

Four Years Old               22                     8          2          5                      $1,756,140

Grade 1                          31                     5          5          6                      $3,140,000

Dirt Fast                         14                      3          3          3                      $1,153,950

                                     60                     20         9          10                      $4,221,130