Two more for Big Red
By Rosana Rivera
To an unsuspecting horse racing enthusiast the names of Roan Antelope and Drafted
might just suggest two unheralded geldings among the progeny of the great Man o’
War. To others, they might appear to be two “former” colts with decent pedigrees whose
reward to their Hastings temperament resulted in emasculation. If the names of Roan
Antelope and Drafted do not ring any bells, their subsequent “identities” as Papagayo
and Lon Chaney reveal not only two old warriors that ended up on a Caribbean island,
but chiefly two more stakes winners for Big Red.
Both Roan Antelope and Drafted were born respectively in 1928 and 1933 out of the
English bred Garristown (by Roi Herode) and the American bred Brush Along (by
Sweep). According to Volume 15 of the American Stud Book, Garristown was imported
to the United States in 1926 by the notable horsewoman and manager of Hinata Farm,
Ms. Elizabeth Daingerfield, but shown as owned by Carstairs and Pierce. On the other
hand, Brush Along was bred by Colonel Phil T. Chinn and was owned by Mr. Samuel D.
Riddle.
A tale of a Big Roan
Roan Antelope competed in the United States from ages two through four, obtaining 9
wins in 43 starts and accumulating $4,350 in purses. His first taste of victory came about
in his second lifetime start, a maiden purse in Saratoga in July of 1930. This performance
probably prompted the connections of Carstairs and Pierce, owners of Mapleton Stud, to
aim for the stakes ranks in the Grand Union Hotel Stakes. Nevertheless Roan Antelope
could do no better than finishing last in the race won by the eventual juvenile champion,
Jamestown. As a three year old, the son of Garristown won two races in Canada, one at
the distance of 1 mile (3/5 off of the course record) and one at 1 1/16 mile. In February
and March of 1932, Roan Antelope won three races in a row in the South Florida circuit.
Although still within the claiming ranks, the gelding made a show of speed by equaling
a track record in Hialeah (1 ¼ in 2:03 3/5) and establishing another at Tropical Park (1 ¼
mile in 2:03). His next three wins on U.S. soil were at Jamaica Park and Aqueduct where
he won respectively two races in April and May; and another at a mile on July 1. By
then, Roan Antelope had changed owners, tracks and jockeys various times, and his
days as a speedy, useful claimer in the United States were over. Yet a new chapter
would unfold for the gallant gelding, as he was boarded onto a steamship bound for the
island of Puerto Rico, where he would start to grace the racetracks in less than a month
since his last win in the United States.
During the upcoming years, Roan Antelope (then renamed Papagayo) was to change
owners no less than eight times, starred in two victorious forays to the Republic of
Venezuela, and was even owned for a while by the “strong man” of said south american
country. In fact, it was the dictator, Coronel Gonzalo Gómez, who re-imported him to
Puerto Rico. As he had shown previously, upon his return, the son of Man o’ War
continued to shine as one of the most accomplished racehorses of the decade. His racing
career on the island was highlighted by 63 wins in 147 starts, from 1932 to 1942,
including three stakes victories. The first one was the Copa Las Monjas celebrated on
November 27, 1932 when he was ridden by Justino Rodríguez. Mr. Rodríguez later
ventured into U.S. soil, where he was exercise rider of Triple Crown winner Omaha;
then upon his return to the island became an outstanding trainer. Roan Antelope’s two
stakes were the Clásico Día del Trabajo in 1934 and the Clásico Juan Ponce de León in
1940. By winning this race at the age of twelve years old, the gray gelding became the
oldest stakes winner in the history of Puerto Rican thoroughbred racing. In addition,
Roan Antelope established two track records at the Quintana Race Track for 1,646
meters in 1:46 3/5 on August 26, 1934 and for 1,000 meters in :59 3/5 on June 4, 1936. It
is worth noting that not only were these very slow tracks designed to accommodate the
ailing condition of many of the imports at the time, but also that it was customary back
then on the island, to record the time of the races right from the start itself.
In his adopted land, Roan Antelope managed to make a show of class that was
reminiscent of the tenacity and fire that characterized his famous sire. It all started as he
loaded a ramp onto a ship. That day the roan gelding exiled from anonymity and was
welcomed into stardom on a little known island nestled in the Caribbean.
Drafted to a new country
While Roan Antelope had shown some promise early in his career, it seems that
Drafted‘s claim to fame was his persistence in maintaining his maiden status. For he
competed with no luck in 15 races while in the United States, from ages two to three.
The son of Brush Along was owned throughout his career by Col. Maxwell Howard and
trained by former star jockey Earle Sande, who also rode Man o’ War once, as a three
year old. The Colonel would eventually own the 1938 Champion three year old colt,
Stagehand, winner of the Santa Anita Derby and the Santa Anita Handicap by a nose
over none other than Seabiscuit.
Drafted’s most notable performances panned out during his last two appearances on
American soil, while competing in the claiming ranks at the Empire City Racetrack.
These took place on July 17 and July 21, 1936, when he finished in fifth and fourth place,
respectively. Among the comments on the race charts, it was stated that “-he finished
well”. His last race boosted his lifetime earnings to a modest $25.00. It was evident that
Drafted was not destined to attain glory in his native land, and just like Roan Antelope,
within a few weeks he found himself bound to the island of Puerto Rico.
A common practice at the time was to register many of the thoroughbred imports under
new names. Thus, the son of Man o’War was provided with a new identity,
homonymous to the famous actor Lon Chaney. The “real” Mr. Chaney had starred in a
movie where he played a cripple that is “miraculously” healed. Coincidentally, by the
end of 1936, the actors’ namesake had performed his own form of a miracle, for Drafted
waved goodbye to his maiden status. In fact his record at the close of the year stood at 4
wins out of 14 starts.
Three of these victories occurred within a time frame of 32 days. On his third outing in
Puerto Rico, on September 13, 1936 at Las Monjas Racetrack at 1,200 meters, he finished
in fourth place in the Clásico Día del Trabajo, with Clemente Andino Cordero in the
irons. This race was won by another descendant of Man o’ War, the filly Ce, known as
Golden Lyre in the U.S. The gelding achieved a stakes race win on April 18, 1937, at
1,300 meters in the Clásico José de Diego at Quintana Racetrack. That day the gelding
was ridden by leading jockey Francisco Belmonte, whose son, Eddie Belmonte, would
ride a victorious Personality during the 1970 Preakness Stakes.
Upon his retirement from the track, Drafted had started in 57 races with 14 wins, 10
seconds, 17 thirds and 9 fourth places. But most important of all, he managed to add his
name among Big Red stakes winners.
The third flag bearer for Man o’ War
A third gelding by Man o’ War by the name of Fleet Flag, and a full brother to Belmont
Stakes winner and Champion three year old, American Flag, was also exported to
Puerto Rico. In his country of origin Fleet Flag had won 18 of 65 starts with $14,260,
including the Amsterdam Claiming Stakes. By a twist of fate, on May 23 of 1934 , Fleet
Flag faced Roan Antelope in a claiming race at Belmont Pak, both of which finished
unplaced.
While racing in Puerto Rico under the name of Don Mellizo, Fleet Flag participated in 22
races from September of 1934 through November 13, 1935 winning two events and
obtaining 3 seconds, 1 third and 4 fourth places.
A new chapter, involving three of Big Red’s get has just been added to the story of the
son of Fair Play and Mahubah. Two of them are newly discovered stakes winners for the
“mostest hoss” progeny record. Bravo for Man o’ War!