Society (horse) explained

Horsename:Society
Sire:Gun Runner
Grandsire:Candy Ride (ARG)
Dam:Etiquette
Damsire:Tapit
Foaled:April 12, 2019[1]
Country:United States
Color:Chestnut
Breeder:Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Owner:Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds
Trainer:Steven M. Asmussen
Record:12: 7-0-1
Earnings:$1,539,535[2]
Race:Charles Town Oaks (2022)
Cotillion Stakes (2022)
Chicago Stakes (2023)
Updated:5 November 2023

Society (foaled April 12, 2019) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who has won multiple graded stakes events as a three-year-old in 2022 including the Grade I Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing.[2]

Background

Society is a chestnut mare that was bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.[3] Her sire is Gun Runner, the 2017 American Horse of the Year and stands at Three Chimneys Farm. Society became the sixth grade 1 winner, and fourth grade 1 winner in 2022 for Gun Runner in his second-crop. Her dam is Etiquette who was also bred by Peter Blum, is a daughter of Tapit and is a half sister to Pleasant Prince[3] who won the Grade III Ohio Derby and was second in the 2010 GI Florida Derby. Her offspring include a filly by Street Sense sold to Windancer Farm for $725,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. In 2022 Etiquette was covered once again by Gun Runner.[3]

Society is trained by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame trainer Steven M. Asmussen.

Career

2021: Two-year-old season

Society began her racing career on October 21 in a Maiden Special Weight event over furlongs at Keeneland. In a field of ten only one entrant had experience. Starting as a 27/1 longshot bumped Hypersport at the start then chased the early pace. Racing in the three path along the turn, was in the four path into the straight, rallied down the stretch, passing Hypersport and cleared in the final stages to win by a margin of a length in a time of 1:17.73. Society only had the one start in 2021.

2022: Three-year-old season

Society had a long spell of over 6 months and did not begin here three-year-old season until May 6. Returning in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs over furlongs Society came out from the gate and soon went to the front. She was challenged by Ontheonesandtwos in the stretch run but repelled the challenge and moved ahead to win lengths in a time of 1:16.89.

On June 16 Society ran at Churchill Downs in the Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes over a longer distance of miles which attracted a small field of five. Society started as the 7/10 odds-on favorite again moved to the lead shortly after the start. With mile to run Society withstood Miss Yearwood's advances and held to win by a length in a time of 1:45.05.

Connections decided to challenge the best three-year-old fillies and on July 23 entered Society in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga Race Course. This event attracted Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath and Nest winner of the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes and runner-up in the Kentucky Oaks. Unfortunately, Society stumbled at the start and never recovered finishing a distant fourth to Nest.[4]

Five weeks later, Society ran in the Grade 2 Charles Town Oaks over a shorter distance of 7 furlongs. Society started as the 7/5 favorite pressed by Louisiana-bred star Free Like a Girl through a :23.28 first quarter and :46.54 half-mile. Society found a second wind turning for home, opening up four lengths at the top of the stretch winning by a final margin of lengths in a stakes record time of 1:23.42.[5] Jockey Tyler Gaffalione spoke to TVG after the race, "Society is naturally very fast and I just didn't want to get in her way. The first time I rode her going two turns (Coaching Club American Oaks) I got into a bit of a fight with her and she didn't finish up with me that well that day. So I learned from my mistakes. She's a very talented filly."[5]

On September 24 Society entered the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing. In the field of nine entrants Society was made the 8/1 fourth choice. Society started well and moved to the lead unchallenged with an opening quarter in :23.33 and half-mile in :46.75. Heading into the turn for home, jockey Florent Geroux widened Society's lead with little effort to six lengths, hitting the six-furlong marker in 1:10.93 and finishing in 1:42.94, lengths in front of longshot Morning Matcha with Secret Oath in third. Florent Geroux commented after the race, "I know if I kept her relaxed (I would win)."[6]

On November 5 in the Breeders' Cup Distaff Society started slightly over 9/2 as third choice. Society led early but she was no match for Malathaat who won in a three-way photo finish with Blue Stripe and Clairiere finishing third.[7]

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGradeTrackOddsFieldFinishWinning TimeWinning
(Losing)
Margin
JockeyRef
2021 – Two-year-old season
furlongsMaiden Special WeightKeeneland27.801011:17.731 length[8]
2022 – Three-year-old season
furlongsAllowance Optional Claiming3.901111:16.89 lengths[9]
milesMonomoy Girl Overnight StakesChurchill Downs0.70*511:44.16 lengths[10]
miles Coaching Club American OaksI Saratoga7.40541:51.04) [11]
7 furlongsCharles Town OaksIIICharles Town1.40*811:23.42[12]
miles Cotillion StakesI Parx Racing7.80911:42.94[13]
milesBreeders' Cup DistaffIKeeneland4.71871:49.07) [14]
2023 – four-year-old season
7 furlongsMadison StakesIKeeneland4.57531:23.12) [15]
milesLa Troienne StakesI Churchill Downs5.18* 1091:42.48) [16]
7 furlongsChicago StakesIIIEllis Park2.19611:20.54[17]
7 furlongsMisty Bennett Pink Ribbon StakesCharles Town0.20*511:23.11[18]
7 furlongsBreeders' Cup Filly & Mare SprintISanta Anita2.20941:22.97(lengths)[19]

An (*) asterisk after the odds means Society was the post-time favorite.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pedigree of Taiba . Equineline . September 28, 2022.
  2. Web site: Profile of Society. Equibase . 5 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Rollins . Molly . Society Crushes Rivals in Cotillion; Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath was third, Morning Matcha second. . bloodhorse.com . September 28, 2022 . September 24, 2022.
  4. Web site: Wilkin . Tim . Nest Rolls Home Over Secret Oath in CCA Oaks; Curlin filly dominated the field July 23 with Secret Oath a distant second. . BloodHorse.com . July 23, 2022 . July 25, 2022.
  5. Web site: Rollins . Molly . Society Streaks to Stakes Record in Charles Town Oaks; Daughter of Gun Runner storms home by 6 3/4 lengths for her first graded triumph. . BloodHorse.com . August 27, 2022 . September 30, 2022.
  6. Web site: Rollins . Molly . Society Crushes Rivals in Cotillion; Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath was third, Morning Matcha second. . BloodHorse.com . September 24, 2022 . September 30, 2022.
  7. Web site: Wilkin . Tim . Malathaat Wins BC Distaff in Three-Way Photo Finish; Malathaat edges out Blue Stripe and Clairiere by the slimmest of margins. . BloodHorse.com . December 11, 2022 . November 5, 2022.
  8. Web site: Chart for Maiden Special Weight 21 October 2021, Race 2 at Keeneland . equibase.com . October 21, 2021 . September 27, 2022.
  9. Web site: Chart of Allowance Optional Claiming May 6, 2022 Churchill Downs (race 12) . May 6, 2022 . September 27, 2022.
  10. Web site: Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes Black Type – (race 5) . Equibase . June 18, 2022 . September 27, 2022.
  11. Web site: Coaching Club American Oaks (Grade 1 – race 5) . equibase.com . July 23, 2022 . July 23, 2022 .
  12. Web site: Charles Town Oaks Grade 3 – (race 11) . Equibase. August 26, 2022. August 27, 2022.
  13. Web site: Cotillion Stakes Grade 1 – (race 11) . Equibase . September 24, 2022. September 27, 2022.
  14. Web site: 2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff Grade 1 – (race 10) . www.equibase.com . December 11, 2022 . November 5, 2021.
  15. Web site: Madison Stakes Grade 1 – (Race 7) . Equibase . April 8, 2023 . April 10, 2023.
  16. Web site: 2023 La Troienne Stakes presented by TwinSpires Grade 1 – (race 9) . Equibase . 5 May 2023 . 6 May 2023.
  17. Web site: Chicago Stakes Grade 3 – (Race 9) . Equibase . 24 June 2023 . 25 June 2023.
  18. Web site: Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon Stakes Black Type – (race 8) . Equibase. August 25, 2023. August 27, 2022.
  19. Web site: PNC Bank Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Grade 1 – (Race 5) . Equibase . November 4, 2023 . November 5, 2023.