John Servis: Derby History
Servis was born November 25, 1958 in Charles Town, West Virginia; now resides in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, with his wife Sherry and sons Blaine and Tyler. Servis scored his first win as a trainer with Belle River at Philadelphia Park in 1984. He saddled Jostle to sweep the Coaching Club American Oaks (GI) and Alabama Stakes in 2000 (GI). Servis, who considers the late Charlie Whittingham his training idol, followed in the two-time Derby winner's footsteps when Smarty Jones captured the 2004 Derby. Smarty was Servis' first Derby starter, and with Rockport Harbor, Servis will attempt to become the first back-to-back Derby winning trainer since Bob Baffert accomplished the feat in 1997-98. In 2004, Servis ranked fourth on the national list of money earning trainers, his stable having won 68 races and earning over $8.9 million. He was also named the 2004 winner of the Big Sport of Turfdom Award by the Turf Publicists of America.
Stewart Elliott: Derby History
Elliott, who turns 40 on March 1st, began his career at Philadelphia Park in 1981 at the age of 16 and has over 3,400 lifetime victories. His winning ride on Smarty Jones in the 2004 Kentucky Derby was his first mount in the race. Smarty Jones' earnings helped propel Elliott to fourth nationally last year; his mounts earning over $14.5 million. A native of Toronto, he has been the leading jockey three seasons at Philadelphia Park. His father, Dennis, was a jockey in Hong Kong for six years when Stewart was a child. Has also ridden at Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts, Rockingham in New Hampshire, Florida, and Maryland. A win in this year's Derby would make Elliott the first back to back winner since Eddie Delahoussaye in 1982-83.
Fox Hill Farms Inc.
Rick Porter, principal of Fox Hill Farms, carries on the family tradition of auto sales -- his ancestors have been in the business in the Delaware Valley since 1925. Porter named his star colt after a town in Maine where he owns a home. Rockport Harbor was bought by Porter for $470,000 out of the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency. Porter, a long-time client of John Servis, has about ten horses in training with the conditioner at Philadelphia Park.
Heiligbrodt Racing Stable & Taylor Made Farm (KY)
Bill Heiligbrodt is currently the president of Palacios Agriculture Inc., and has served on the board of directors of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Texas Thoroughbred Association. A resident of Houston, Heiligbrodt is a retired executive who held top positions in banking and financial institutions. He and his wife Corinne started racing thoroughbreds in 1988. He has horses stabled in the Midwest, Kentucky, and on the East Coast with several trainers, as well as boarding broodmares in Texas and Kentucky. He has raced more than 50 stakes winners, including Lady Tak, Golden Ballet, and Cashier's Dream. In 2004, Heiligbrodt finished ranked 11th in the owners standings, with earnings just shy of $3 million.
03.21.05 - Greater Good Runs Down Rockport Harbor 03.19.05 - Greater Good Scores His Third Straight 03.19.05 - Big Three Face Showdown In Oaklawn's Rebel 02.05.05 - Visa Triple Crown Nominations
Rockport Harbor is by Unbridled’s Song, who sold at auction for $1.4 million as a two year old, and then won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his third lifetime start in 1995. He sired two Grade one winners in his first crop: Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) winner Unbridled Elaine and Fountain of Youth Stakes (GI) winner Songandaprayer. From four crops to race, he has at least twenty stakes winners, including current leading three-year-old filly Splendid Blended, who won the Hollywood Starlet (GI); Buddha, winner of the Wood Memorial (GI); Marylebone, winner of the Matron Stakes (GI); and Domestic Dispute, winner of the Santa Catalina (GII). Unbridled’s Song showed flashes of brilliance on the racetrack throughout his career, winning the Breeder Cup Juvenile in only his third start and taking the Florida Derby (GI) by 5 ¾ lengths, defeating Horse of the Year Skip Away, and classic winners Louis Quatorze and Editor’s Note. Rockport Harbor is foal number three from his dam Regal Miss Copelan. The first two were unraced, so he is making her look pretty good when one of her offspring gets to the track. Regal Miss Copelan was fairly precocious, winning the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth at two as a maiden. Overall, she won two of 11 races, earning $56,225, primarily as a sprinter. This is to be expected from a daughter of Copelan, who won five stakes as a two-year-old, but did carry his speed to run second in the Florida Derby (GI) and third in the Blue Grass (GI). Regal Miss Copelan directly descends, on her male side, from the immortal Tom Fool, who was a champion as both a two-year-old and older horse in the 1950's. Her half-sister, Regally Appealing, was a Grade II winner at two, taking the Adirondack and the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies at Turfway Park.
Dosage Index: 1.67
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