Azeri (USA)
May 6, 1998 – Living
Jade Hunter (USA) x Zodiac Miss (AUS), by Ahonoora (GB)
Family 1-l
May 6, 1998 – Living
Jade Hunter (USA) x Zodiac Miss (AUS), by Ahonoora (GB)
Family 1-l
One of the few American racehorses to earn championships for three consecutive years, Azeri is the only mare to do so in the older female division since official voting began in 1936. She is also the only filly or mare to earn the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year without defeating males. Her championships are a tribute not only to her consistency and class but to the sportsmanship of J. Michael Paulson, who kept her in training through age 6 rather than rushing her off to the paddocks after her first title. She did well as a broodmare but has not produced anything in her own league.
Race record
24 starts, 17 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$4,079,820
2002:
2003:
2004:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2002 World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 10 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing but tops among fillies and mares.
As an individual
A short-coupled chestnut with a well laid back shoulder, Azeri was not considered particularly attractive as a youngster but was well made if workmanlike and matured into a strapping, robust mare. She had a smooth, efficient stride and plenty of natural speed. She was very professional at the track with a fierce will to win but earned the nickname “Honeybear” around the barn for her laid-back disposition. As a broodmare, she has been dominant and assertive but not mean.
As a producer
Azeri produced nine named foals, all of which started; eight have won. Her only stakes winner is 2013 Falls City Handicap (USA-G2) winner Wine Princess (by Ghostzapper), in turn the dam of 2023 River City Stakes (USA-G3) winner Smokin' T (by War Front).
Connections
Azeri was bred by Allen E. Paulson, who retained the filly as a US$110,000 buyback from the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale. Following Paulson's death in July 2000, Azeri was owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, which was managed by Paulson's son J. Michael Paulson. The mare was trained by Laura de Seroux at ages 3 to 5. After suffering what was feared to be a career-ending tendon injury in her final race at 5, de Seroux argued for the mare's retirement. Instead the younger Paulson decided to try for a comeback based on favorable reports from examining veterinarians and turned Azeri over to D. Wayne Lukas at age 6. Azeri was consigned to the 2009 Keeneland January mixed sale in foal to Ghostzapper but was bought back for US$4.4 million. After producing her Ghostzapper filly, Azeri was consigned to the 2009 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Distorted Humor, and was sold to Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, Japan, for US$2.25 million. Azeri was pensioned from breeding after the 2020 season and became a babysitter and lead mare for Northern Farm's weanlings.
Pedigree notes
Azeri is inbred 5x4 to Northern Dancer. Her dam, Zodiac Miss, is an Australian Group 3 winner but produced only one other named foal before being killed by lightning in 1999. Azeri's second dam, Capricornia (by Try My Best), never raced but is a half sister to Balletomane (by Sadler's Wells), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Silic (by Sillery). The third dam of Azeri, Group 1-placed Franconia (by Rheingold), is a half sister to Classic-placed French stakes winner Prudent Miss (by Prudent), dam of 1982 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner River Lady (by Riverman) and 1981 Prix Lupin (FR-G1) winner My Lute (by Luthier).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2009 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2023
Race record
24 starts, 17 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$4,079,820
2002:
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd La Canada Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
2003:
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
2004:
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Go for Wand Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Personal Ensign Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Humana Distaff Handicap (USA-G1, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2010)
- Eclipse Award, American Horse of the Year (2002)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2002-2004)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2002 World Thoroughbred Rankings.
Rated at 123 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 10 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing but tops among fillies and mares.
As an individual
A short-coupled chestnut with a well laid back shoulder, Azeri was not considered particularly attractive as a youngster but was well made if workmanlike and matured into a strapping, robust mare. She had a smooth, efficient stride and plenty of natural speed. She was very professional at the track with a fierce will to win but earned the nickname “Honeybear” around the barn for her laid-back disposition. As a broodmare, she has been dominant and assertive but not mean.
As a producer
Azeri produced nine named foals, all of which started; eight have won. Her only stakes winner is 2013 Falls City Handicap (USA-G2) winner Wine Princess (by Ghostzapper), in turn the dam of 2023 River City Stakes (USA-G3) winner Smokin' T (by War Front).
Connections
Azeri was bred by Allen E. Paulson, who retained the filly as a US$110,000 buyback from the 1999 Keeneland September yearling sale. Following Paulson's death in July 2000, Azeri was owned by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, which was managed by Paulson's son J. Michael Paulson. The mare was trained by Laura de Seroux at ages 3 to 5. After suffering what was feared to be a career-ending tendon injury in her final race at 5, de Seroux argued for the mare's retirement. Instead the younger Paulson decided to try for a comeback based on favorable reports from examining veterinarians and turned Azeri over to D. Wayne Lukas at age 6. Azeri was consigned to the 2009 Keeneland January mixed sale in foal to Ghostzapper but was bought back for US$4.4 million. After producing her Ghostzapper filly, Azeri was consigned to the 2009 Keeneland November mixed sale, in foal to Distorted Humor, and was sold to Katsumi Yoshida of Northern Farm, Japan, for US$2.25 million. Azeri was pensioned from breeding after the 2020 season and became a babysitter and lead mare for Northern Farm's weanlings.
Pedigree notes
Azeri is inbred 5x4 to Northern Dancer. Her dam, Zodiac Miss, is an Australian Group 3 winner but produced only one other named foal before being killed by lightning in 1999. Azeri's second dam, Capricornia (by Try My Best), never raced but is a half sister to Balletomane (by Sadler's Wells), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Silic (by Sillery). The third dam of Azeri, Group 1-placed Franconia (by Rheingold), is a half sister to Classic-placed French stakes winner Prudent Miss (by Prudent), dam of 1982 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner River Lady (by Riverman) and 1981 Prix Lupin (FR-G1) winner My Lute (by Luthier).
Books and media
- “Azeri” is the tenth chapter in Women of the Year: Ten Fillies Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor, a Blood-Horse compilation published in 2004 by Eclipse Press. The book was later updated and re-issued in 2011 as Horse Racing Divas: From Azeri to Zenyatta, Twelve Fillies and Mares Who Achieved Horse Racing's Highest Honor.
- Footage of Azeri's victory in the 2004 Spinster Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXkPLnRo1PY.
Fun facts
- Like most of Allen Paulson's horses, Azeri is named for an aviation checkpoint. In her case, the checkpoint that supplied her name is in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
- Azeri retired as the leading money-winning filly or mare based in North America.
- The Azeri Stakes was inaugurated at Oaklawn Park in 2005, replacing the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup Stakes on the track calendar. As of 2020, it is a Grade 2 race over 8½ furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares aged 4 and up.
- One of Azeri's foals became the most expensive buyback in Thoroughbred auction history when Michael Paulson went to $7.7 million to retain her yearling colt by A.P. Indy at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale. Originally named Vallenzeri (the name was later changed to Take Control), the colt was later sold to Kaleem Shah at the 2009 Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Take Control was a victim of repeated injuries and never lived up to his promise before suffering a fatal breakdown in a workout on October 17, 2013, at Santa Anita Park.
Photo credit
Portrait photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2009 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 11, 2023