Afleet Alex (USA)
May 9, 2002 – Living
Northern Afleet (USA) x Maggy Hawk (USA), by Hawkster (USA)
Family 5-g
May 9, 2002 – Living
Northern Afleet (USA) x Maggy Hawk (USA), by Hawkster (USA)
Family 5-g
If Afleet Alex had done nothing more than win the 2005 Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), that would be more than enough to make him memorable. After being knocked down by Scrappy T and literally picking himself up off his knees to win, he became a popular hero. When he tacked on the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) by seven lengths, he left many people wondering what might have been had he not encountered traffic trouble in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), in which he finished a strong third. (It was later revealed that the colt had also been suffering from a lung infection at the time of his Derby performance.) Unfortunately, the Belmont was Afleet Alex's last start due to an unusual bone condition. He was not a top stallion but had his moments as a sire before being pensioned in early 2022.
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,765,800
2004:
2005:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2004, 2 pounds below co-highweights Declan's Moon (the divisional champion) and Wilko but tied with Roman Ruler for third..
Rated at 124 pounds on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings of 2005, highest for a 3-year-old over intermediate distances and ninth overall.
As an individual
Considered an ugly duckling as a youngster, Afleet Alex matured into a 16-hand bay stallion. He has the straight, strong hind leg characteristic of the Mr. Prospector line and a good shoulder and hip. A long-bodied horse, he is strongly made through the loins and has short cannons. His pasterns are somewhat long. While he has a commanding presence, Gainesway's sales director Michael Hermon has described him as being “like a big Labrador.” His racing stride was smooth and efficient with an excellent turn of foot.
As a stallion
Afleet Alex's progeny tend to stay better than those of the average American sire but typically need time to mature. As of January 31, 2022, he has sired 39 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Advier (USA), Afleet Express (USA), Cuqui's Love (USA), Dolkong (USA), Dublin (USA), Iotapa (USA), Materiality (USA), Sharla Rae (USA), Skywire (CAN), Texas Red (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dream Tree (USA), Mahagonny (ARG), Practical Move (USA), Sir Winston (USA)
Connections
Afleet Alex was bred in Florida by John Martin Silvertand. He was owned by Cash Is King Stable (Chuck Zacney, Joe Lerro, Bob Brittingham, Jennifer Reeves and Joe Judge), which purchased the colt for US$75,000 from the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training. Afleet Alex was trained by Tim Richey. He was officially retired from racing on December 1, 2005, due to discovery of an injury that may actually have preceded the condylar fracture that kept him out of the Breeders' Cup. The problem was described by veterinarians Patricia Hogan and Larry Bramage as avascular necrosis, a weakened section of bone caused by loss of blood supply. The problem could possibly have been caused by Afleet Alex's bad stumble in the Preakness, as Dr. Hogan explained that this sometimes begins with a severe bruise to the bone. Afleet Alex entered stud in 2006 in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm and remained there throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in January 2022 and remains at Gainesway.
Pedigree notes
Afleet Alex is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Unforgettable Max. He is also a half brother to Jolie Hawk (by Mister Jolie), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Cash's Girl (by Northern Afleet; dam of Grade 3 winner Name Changer, by Uncle Mo), and to Quiet Maggy (by Quiet American), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Topic (by Discreet Cat). In addition, Afleet Alex is a half brother to Curlin Hawk (by Curlin), dam of Grade 3 winner Seabhac (by Scat Daddy).
Afleet Alex's dam Maggy Hawk is a half sister to Cue the Groom (by Blushing Groom), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Vale Mantovani (by Wolfhound; dam of Group 1-placed stakes winner Duca di Mantova, by Manduro). She is also a half sister to Ducktrap Harbor (by Polish Navy), whose grandson Lighting Go was named the champion imported sprinter and champion imported older horse of 2018 in the Dominican Republic.
Maggy Hawk and her siblings were produced from 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique (by Hawaii), whose stakes-placed full sister Honolulu Honey is the dam of Canadian stakes winners Honolulu Gold (by Alwuhush) and Northface (by Time for a Change). A daughter of the Sensitivo mare Dorothy Gaylord, Qualique is also a full sister to Aloha Jane, dam of multiple European stakes winner Aunty Jane (by Distant Relative), and a half sister to listed stakes winner Peaks Mill (by Stalwart), dam of Grade 3 winners Belgravia (by Mr. Greeley) and Squadron A (by Unbridled's Song).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photograph taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway Farm in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: April 10, 2023
Race record
12 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$2,765,800
2004:
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Sanford Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Lone Star)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
2005:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Arkansas Derby (USA-G2, 9FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Mountain Valley Stakes (USA, 6FD, Oaklawn)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2005)
- Eclipse Award runner-up, American Horse of the Year (2005)
- Florida-bred Horse of the Year (2005)
- Florida-bred champion 3-year-old male (2005)
Assessments
Rated at 124 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2004, 2 pounds below co-highweights Declan's Moon (the divisional champion) and Wilko but tied with Roman Ruler for third..
Rated at 124 pounds on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings of 2005, highest for a 3-year-old over intermediate distances and ninth overall.
As an individual
Considered an ugly duckling as a youngster, Afleet Alex matured into a 16-hand bay stallion. He has the straight, strong hind leg characteristic of the Mr. Prospector line and a good shoulder and hip. A long-bodied horse, he is strongly made through the loins and has short cannons. His pasterns are somewhat long. While he has a commanding presence, Gainesway's sales director Michael Hermon has described him as being “like a big Labrador.” His racing stride was smooth and efficient with an excellent turn of foot.
As a stallion
Afleet Alex's progeny tend to stay better than those of the average American sire but typically need time to mature. As of January 31, 2022, he has sired 39 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Advier (USA), Afleet Express (USA), Cuqui's Love (USA), Dolkong (USA), Dublin (USA), Iotapa (USA), Materiality (USA), Sharla Rae (USA), Skywire (CAN), Texas Red (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dream Tree (USA), Mahagonny (ARG), Practical Move (USA), Sir Winston (USA)
Connections
Afleet Alex was bred in Florida by John Martin Silvertand. He was owned by Cash Is King Stable (Chuck Zacney, Joe Lerro, Bob Brittingham, Jennifer Reeves and Joe Judge), which purchased the colt for US$75,000 from the 2004 Fasig-Tipton Mid-Atlantic May sale of 2-year-olds in training. Afleet Alex was trained by Tim Richey. He was officially retired from racing on December 1, 2005, due to discovery of an injury that may actually have preceded the condylar fracture that kept him out of the Breeders' Cup. The problem was described by veterinarians Patricia Hogan and Larry Bramage as avascular necrosis, a weakened section of bone caused by loss of blood supply. The problem could possibly have been caused by Afleet Alex's bad stumble in the Preakness, as Dr. Hogan explained that this sometimes begins with a severe bruise to the bone. Afleet Alex entered stud in 2006 in Kentucky at Gainesway Farm and remained there throughout his stud career. He was pensioned in January 2022 and remains at Gainesway.
Pedigree notes
Afleet Alex is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Unforgettable Max. He is also a half brother to Jolie Hawk (by Mister Jolie), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Cash's Girl (by Northern Afleet; dam of Grade 3 winner Name Changer, by Uncle Mo), and to Quiet Maggy (by Quiet American), dam of Grade 1-placed stakes winner Topic (by Discreet Cat). In addition, Afleet Alex is a half brother to Curlin Hawk (by Curlin), dam of Grade 3 winner Seabhac (by Scat Daddy).
Afleet Alex's dam Maggy Hawk is a half sister to Cue the Groom (by Blushing Groom), dam of Italian Group 3 winner Vale Mantovani (by Wolfhound; dam of Group 1-placed stakes winner Duca di Mantova, by Manduro). She is also a half sister to Ducktrap Harbor (by Polish Navy), whose grandson Lighting Go was named the champion imported sprinter and champion imported older horse of 2018 in the Dominican Republic.
Maggy Hawk and her siblings were produced from 1983 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G1) winner Qualique (by Hawaii), whose stakes-placed full sister Honolulu Honey is the dam of Canadian stakes winners Honolulu Gold (by Alwuhush) and Northface (by Time for a Change). A daughter of the Sensitivo mare Dorothy Gaylord, Qualique is also a full sister to Aloha Jane, dam of multiple European stakes winner Aunty Jane (by Distant Relative), and a half sister to listed stakes winner Peaks Mill (by Stalwart), dam of Grade 3 winners Belgravia (by Mr. Greeley) and Squadron A (by Unbridled's Song).
Books and media
- Afleet Alex's run through the Triple Crown series is covered in “Alex, We Hardly Knew Ya,” the 18th chapter of Steve Haskin's Tales From the Triple Crown (2008, Eclipse Press).
- Afleet Alex's trainer, Tim Richey, was featured in the interactive program “Talkin' Horses” on bloodhorse.com on May 25, 2005, with much of the discussion focusing on the colt's Derby and Preakness performances. The transcript was later published in Best of Talkin' Horses (2008, Eclipse Press; edited by Ron Mitchell).
Fun facts
- Afleet Alex was named in honor of his sire, Northern Afleet, and three of the children of his owners who shared the name or nickname “Alex.”
- During the first 12 days of his life, Afleet Alex was bottle-fed by Silvertand's then 9-year-old daughter Lauren because his dam was unable to produce milk and a nurse mare was not immediately available.
- Unlike most modern runners, Afleet Alex normally trained twice a day, finishing up with a 3-mile gallop.
- Afleet Alex's Preakness victory was voted the “Moment of the Year” for 2005 by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. It also ranked #54 in Horse Racing's Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
- Part of Afleet Alex's earnings and merchandising proceeds were donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a fundraising effort for juvenile cancer research started by cancer patient Alexandra Scott that raised some US$3.5 million in 2005 thanks to publicity generated by Afleet Alex. Afleet Alex's owners and trainer also visited juvenile cancer wards in Louisville, Baltimore and New York City prior to the colt's Triple Crown races. Cash Is King Stable's activities on behalf of Alex's Lemonade Stand were honored by the 2005 Special Eclipse Award.
- The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners association honored Cash Is King Stable as the 2005 Florida Owner of the Year based on Afleet Alex's accomplishments. They also named his breeder, John Martin Silverland, as the Florida Breeder of the Year and his dam, Maggy Hawk, as the Florida Broodmare of the Year.
Photo credit
Portrait photograph taken by Jessica Morgan at Gainesway Farm in 2007. Used by permission.
Last updated: April 10, 2023