TOP 7: PROXY

Proxy’s racing career paints the picture of a horse with notable consistency, versatility, and a knack for staying competitive across various tracks and conditions. His journey from a narrow loss in his debut to a six-time winner, including prestigious Grade 1 and Grade 3 victories, illustrates his quality and resilience. One of his best triumphs was the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup on July 22, 2023, mastering nine furlongs with a lead that never wavered from start to finish.

Despite hitting the winner’s circle in just 6 of his 20 starts, the tale of Proxy is painted with consistent brilliance with a track record of 20:6-7-3. It is rare to find him missing from the leading pack, with just four outings placing him outside the top three. With most finishes in the top three, it shows he rarely ran a bad race. Proxy’s ability to lead a race from start to finish, as he did in the Monmouth Cup, or to charge late and still secure a win or place demonstrates his adaptability and strategic versatility under different race conditions. His performances weren’t just about speed; they were about tactical intelligence, whether adapting to the pace, overcoming track variations, or outmaneuvering competitors.

Rewind to his debut at Monmouth Park, a vibrant 2-year-old barely missing victory by a whisker, finishing a heartbreaking second. But the tables turned at the Fair Grounds when Proxy dazzled the spectators, going gate-to-wire to triumphantly break his maiden.

The peak of his career echoed through the halls of Churchill Downs at the Grade 1 Clark Stakes on November 25, 2022, where he outshined a field of stars, including the celebrated 2022 Kentucky Derby winner, Rich Strike. Through subsequent highs and lows, he stood as a paragon of steadiness, his career a testament to tenacity, his achievements resonating beyond mere victory counts. Yet, the narrative doesn’t end there. The following year, Proxy resumed his winning ways in his 5-year-old season at the prestigious Grade 2 $1 million Oaklawn Handicap on April 22, 2023, outpacing his rivals in a heart-stopping photo finish – a three-way photo finish over Last Samurai and Stilleto Boy. Though a subsequent race saw him falter in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster race in July, he quickly regained his stride, clinching victory at the Grade 3 $400,000 Monmouth Cup by a 2 ½ length, a performance that was nothing short of spectacular.

As Proxy approached the twilight of his racing days, his fighting spirit was still as fierce as ever when he almost snatched another Grade 1 title, finishing a nose behind Bright Future in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes on September 2, 2023, at Saratoga. His storied career reached a crescendo at the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, a testament to his enduring spirit, securing a respectable third place and capping off a season of remarkable earnings – his highest earnings, marking the pinnacle of his journey as a five-year-old stallion.

As he gracefully strides into retirement, he prepares to grace the pastures of Darley’s Jonabell Farm, joining a prestigious roster of stallions. His legacy is a treasure chest of memories, enriched by the praises of his trainer, Michael Stidham, who admired him not just as a phenomenal athlete but as a spectacle of joy. Echoing through the stables of Godolphin America, Michael Banahan’s words highlight Proxy’s exceptional late bloom, commanding aura, and tactical ingenuity—qualities that have cemented him as a racetrack icon from his early days to his seasoned finale. He is a beacon of equine excellence, demonstrating that true champions can shine brightly from the energetic age of two to the seasoned age of five. His tale is not merely one of victories and defeats but a celebration of the enduring essence of competition and the perpetual enchantment of the horse racing world.