Alphabet Soup (USA)
March 31, 1991 – January 28, 2022
Cozzene (USA) x Illiterate (USA), by Arts and Letters (USA)
Family 1-n
March 31, 1991 – January 28, 2022
Cozzene (USA) x Illiterate (USA), by Arts and Letters (USA)
Family 1-n
Dumpy and undersized as a youngster, Alphabet Soup could not meet a modest reserve at two auctions before finally being bought as a throw-in in a private transaction. As has happened on other occasions, the “extra” horse proved to be much the more valuable. The son of Cozzene was slow to mature but was a good stakes winner at 4 and 5, climaxing his career with a gritty with over Louis Quatorze and Cigar in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) at 19.85-1 odds. He was a moderately successful sire before being pensioned in 2015.
Race record
24 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 6 thirds, US$2,988,325
1994:
1995:
1996:
1997:
Honors
Eclipse Award runner-up, American champion older male (1996)
Assessments
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1994, 21 pounds below champion Paradise Creek.
As an individual
Officially registered as roan but genetically a gray, Alphabet Soup was a strongly made, handsome horse standing 16.0 hands. Those familiar with him described him as having high intelligence and a sociable, gentle disposition. He liked carrots as treats but liked having his back scratched even better.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Alphabet Soup sired 514 winners (56.3%) and 39 stakes winners (4.3%) from 913 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Alpha Bettor (USA), Alphabet Kisses (USA), Down Royal (USA), Egg Drop (USA), Our New Recruit (USA), Phantom Light (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ondina Dubai (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Alphabet Soup was bred by Southeast Associates. As a 2-year-old, he was purchased privately in a US$100,000 package deal with a Wild Again filly by Georgia Ridder. He was trained by David Hofmans and was ridden to his triumph in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic by Chris McCarron. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1998 at Adena Springs and moved to Adena Springs South near Ocala, Florida, in 2007. In 2010, he moved again, this time to Gardiner Farms in Ontario, Canada, and in 2011 transferred to McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York. He returned to Adena Springs’ Kentucky facility in 2014. He was pensioned in 2015 and moved to the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky. He was euthanized on January 28, 2022, due to chronic kidney disease; like most older gray horses, he had also been suffering from melanomas at the time of his death..
Pedigree notes
Alphabet Soup is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to stakes-placed Starsawhirl (by Star de Naskra), second dam of 2010 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Munra, and to Little Vagrant (by Riverman), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Cocoboy (by Cozzene).
Alphabet Soup is out of multiple Grade 3 winner Illiterate, whose stakes-placed half sister Opec (by Bagdad) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Forty Weight (by Quadratic), the second dam of 1989 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Nydrion, and the third dam of 2001 Personal Ensign Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pompeii 2008 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G1) winner Square Eddie, and Grade 3 winners Omi and Ground Storm. Illiterate is also a half sister to Sadie Mae (by Sadair), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quick Call (by Quack) and stakes winner The Skeptic (by Sauce Boat), and to Linda’s Laurel (by Hedevar), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Truely Colorful (by True Colors). Finally, Illiterate is a half sister to Laurel’s Moment (by For the Moment), dam of multiple stakes winner Laurels Prospect (by Northern Prospect).
Illiterate, in turn, is out of juvenile stakes winner Laurel Mae (by Crafty Admiral), whose multiple stakes-winning half sister Melody Mine (by The Doge) is the dam of 1971 Senorita Stakes winner Shelf Talker (by Tatán) and 1969 San Simeon Handicap winner Ottawa Hills (by Hasty Road), the second dam of 1981 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Header Card, and the third dam of Grade 2 winners Gray Cashmere and Top Rung and Grade/Group 3 winners Dispersion, Split Run, and Undercut. Produced from the Zacaweista mare Magic Melody, Laurel Mae is also a half sister to Froufrou Rose (by Reneged), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Estrabismo (by Terrang).
Books and media
Footage of Alphabet Soup’s win in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be accessed through the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/alphabet-soup).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South in 2007.
Last updated: May 31, 2024
Race record
24 starts, 10 wins, 3 seconds, 6 thirds, US$2,988,325
1994:
- 2nd Volante Handicap (USA-G3, 9FT, Santa Anita)
1995:
- Won Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Del Mar)
- Won Native Diver Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Harry F. Brubaker Handicap (USA-R, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Goodwood Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Clark Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
1996:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic Stakes (CAN-G1, 10FD, Woodbine; new track record 2:01)
- Won San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won San Pasqual Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Pat O'Brien Handicap (USA-G3, 7FD, Del Mar)
- 2nd Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Del Mar)
- 3rd Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
1997:
- 2nd San Antonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
Eclipse Award runner-up, American champion older male (1996)
Assessments
Rated at 106 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American turf males of 1994, 21 pounds below champion Paradise Creek.
As an individual
Officially registered as roan but genetically a gray, Alphabet Soup was a strongly made, handsome horse standing 16.0 hands. Those familiar with him described him as having high intelligence and a sociable, gentle disposition. He liked carrots as treats but liked having his back scratched even better.
As a stallion
According to records maintained by The Jockey Club, Alphabet Soup sired 514 winners (56.3%) and 39 stakes winners (4.3%) from 913 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 9th on the American general sire list in 2004.
- 3rd on the Canadian general sire list in 2009.
Notable progeny
Alpha Bettor (USA), Alphabet Kisses (USA), Down Royal (USA), Egg Drop (USA), Our New Recruit (USA), Phantom Light (CAN)
Notable progeny of daughters
Ondina Dubai (ARG)
Connections
Foaled in Pennsylvania, Alphabet Soup was bred by Southeast Associates. As a 2-year-old, he was purchased privately in a US$100,000 package deal with a Wild Again filly by Georgia Ridder. He was trained by David Hofmans and was ridden to his triumph in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic by Chris McCarron. He entered stud in Kentucky in 1998 at Adena Springs and moved to Adena Springs South near Ocala, Florida, in 2007. In 2010, he moved again, this time to Gardiner Farms in Ontario, Canada, and in 2011 transferred to McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds in New York. He returned to Adena Springs’ Kentucky facility in 2014. He was pensioned in 2015 and moved to the Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Kentucky. He was euthanized on January 28, 2022, due to chronic kidney disease; like most older gray horses, he had also been suffering from melanomas at the time of his death..
Pedigree notes
Alphabet Soup is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to stakes-placed Starsawhirl (by Star de Naskra), second dam of 2010 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Munra, and to Little Vagrant (by Riverman), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Cocoboy (by Cozzene).
Alphabet Soup is out of multiple Grade 3 winner Illiterate, whose stakes-placed half sister Opec (by Bagdad) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Forty Weight (by Quadratic), the second dam of 1989 Oaks d’Italia (ITY-G1) winner Nydrion, and the third dam of 2001 Personal Ensign Handicap (USA-G1) winner Pompeii 2008 Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (USA-G1) winner Square Eddie, and Grade 3 winners Omi and Ground Storm. Illiterate is also a half sister to Sadie Mae (by Sadair), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Quick Call (by Quack) and stakes winner The Skeptic (by Sauce Boat), and to Linda’s Laurel (by Hedevar), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Truely Colorful (by True Colors). Finally, Illiterate is a half sister to Laurel’s Moment (by For the Moment), dam of multiple stakes winner Laurels Prospect (by Northern Prospect).
Illiterate, in turn, is out of juvenile stakes winner Laurel Mae (by Crafty Admiral), whose multiple stakes-winning half sister Melody Mine (by The Doge) is the dam of 1971 Senorita Stakes winner Shelf Talker (by Tatán) and 1969 San Simeon Handicap winner Ottawa Hills (by Hasty Road), the second dam of 1981 Oak Leaf Stakes (USA-G1) winner Header Card, and the third dam of Grade 2 winners Gray Cashmere and Top Rung and Grade/Group 3 winners Dispersion, Split Run, and Undercut. Produced from the Zacaweista mare Magic Melody, Laurel Mae is also a half sister to Froufrou Rose (by Reneged), dam of Puerto Rican stakes winner Estrabismo (by Terrang).
Books and media
Footage of Alphabet Soup’s win in the 1996 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be accessed through the Breeders’ Cup Hall of Champions (https://www.breederscup.com/history-tradition/hall-champions/alphabet-soup).
Fun facts
- Alphabet Soup had the nicknames “Alphie” and “Soup.”
- Alphabet Soup’s pasture buddy at Old Friends was a donkey named Gorgeous George. The two were virtually inseparable, and the diminutive George had a ramp that allowed him to share Alphabet Soup’s watering trough.
- In May 2020, the magazine Smithsonian did a feature on Old Friends and used a photo of Alphabet Soup for its cover.
- In 2021, Old Friends held a 30th birthday party for Alphabet Soup. Fearing that a huge celebration might overstress the aging stallion (who had earlier survived a difficult bout with multiple melanomas) as well as cause conflict with COVID-19 concerns, the facility held a drawing for 15 lucky fans to attend.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South in 2007.
Last updated: May 31, 2024