Groovy (horse)

Won Forever Casting Stakes (USA, 6FD, The Meadowlands)
2nd Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
2nd Futurity Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont)

1986:

Won Tom Fool Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
Won Forego Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
Won Ancient Title Handicap (USA-L, 6FD, Santa Anita)
Won Firecracker Stakes (USA-L, 6FD, BEL)
Won Spectacular Bid Stakes (USA, 6FD, GP)
2nd Bay Shore Stakes (first division) (USA-G2, 7FD, Aqueduct)
3rd Wood Memorial Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Aqueduct)

1987:

Won Vosburgh Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Belmont),
Won True North Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Belmont; new track record 1:07.80)
Won Tom Fool Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Belmont)
Won Forego Handicap (USA-G2, 7FD, Saratoga)
Won Roseben Handicap (USA-G3, 6FD, Belmont)
Won Finger Lakes Budweiser Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-L, 6FD, Finger Lakes; new track record 1:09.40)
2nd Breeders' Cup Sprint (USA-G1, 6FD, Hollywood)

Honors

Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2001)
Eclipse Award, American champion sprinter (1987)

Assessments

Rated at 116 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juvenile males of 1985, 10 pounds below co-highweights Ogygian and Tasso (the official divisional champion).

Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1986, 3 pounds below highweighted Phone Trick and 2 pounds below the official divisional champion, Smile.

Highweighted at 128 pounds on the Daily Racing Form’s Free Handicap for American male sprinters of 1987, 4 pounds above second-rated Bedside Promise.

As an individual

A muscular chestnut with an exceptional shoulder, a deep chest, and powerful hindquarters, Groovy was a confirmed front runner and never won beyond 7 furlongs. Part of his stamina limitations may have been related to a severe throat infection he suffered while an unraced 2-year-old. Later, the colt had a bone chip removed from a knee after losing his final two starts at 3. Calm and easy-going around the barn and in the post parade, he became “possessed” in the staring gate according to jockey Angel Cordero, who added that for the first quarter-mile, “all I do is hold on.”

Off the track, Groovy was a horse of friendly personality and high intelligence and was a great favorite among the staff at Prestonwood Farm/WinStar Farm. He loved doughnuts and was particularly fond of chocolate-iced Krispy Kremes and jelly doughnuts, whinnying whenever a coffee wagon with doughnuts pulled up to the barn; for the sake of his health, he was limited to three such treats per day. He was also fond of pecans and would take a bite of practically anything he saw a human eating.

As a stallion

According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Groovy sired 223 winners (63.0%) and 17 stakes winners (4.8%) from 354 named foals. Groovy’s obituary in The Blood-Horse credited him with 18 stakes winners (5.1%).

Notable progeny

Brutally Frank (USA)

Notable progeny of daughters

Mi Sureña (ARG)

Connections

Foaled in Texas, Groovy was bred by Marshall T. Robinson and was sold to Edith Libutti’s Lion Crest Stable for US$81,000 from a 1985 sale of 2-year-olds in training. Libutti, in turn, sold Groovy for US$250,000 to Ted Kruckel, who sold a half interest to John A. Ballis for US $1 million after the colt’s first start at 3. Ballis bought out his partner for $950,000 prior to Groovy’s last start at 3 and remained his owner until the colt was purchased by Prestonwood Farm for US$4 million following his July 18 victory in the 1987 Tom Fool Stakes. Groovy was saddled by five different trainers during his racing career, with Josá Martin handling the training duties from July 1986 onward, and had already been handled by three more while being trained to race. He was ridden by a number of jockeys but scored his biggest successes when ridden by Angel Cordero Jr. He entered stud in 1998 at Prestonwood Farm, remaining there when the farm was bought by Bill Casner and Kenny Troutt and renamed WinStar Farm in January 2000. Groovy was pensioned after the 2001 breeding season due to his having developed neurological problems which prevented his being able to cover mares. He was euthanized in January 2006 due to the infirmities of old age.

Pedigree notes

Groovy is inbred 5x5 to 1943 American champion sire Bull Dog, also a three-time American champion broodmare sire. He is a half brother to stakes winner Harbor Springs (by Vice Regent), dam of 1996 American champion 2-year-old male Boston Harbor (by Capote) and stakes winner Cloudburst (by Storm Cat). He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Dancitus (by Far North), third dam of Grade 3 winner Pica Slew and 2018 Puerto Rican champion imported 2-year-old filly Shes a Bullet, and to Kissie (by Deputy Minister), dam of Group 2-placed listed stakes winner Korea (by Southern Halo); Korea, in turn, is the dam of 2016 Argentine champion 2-year-old filly Kononkop (by Pure Prize) and multiple Argentine Group 2 winner Koller (by Orpen) and is the second dam of Argentine Group 3 winner Kodiak Boy. In addition, Groovy is a half brother to Cookie (by Dayjur), dam of multiple stakes winner Sky Soldier (by Unaccounted For).

Groovy is out of Tinnitus (by 1958 Arlington Futurity and Washington Park Futurity winner Restless Wind), whose stakes-placed full sister Resting Wind is the dam of juvenile stakes winner Whatever’s Right and the second dam of 1996 Trinidadian champion 2-year-old filly Ma Ma Do Do. Tinnitus is also a full sister to Elakonee Wind, dam of English stakes winner Telsmoss and third dam of South African Group 2 winner Golden Silvino. In addition, Tinnitus is a half sister to 1970 Del Mar Derby winner Mayhedo (by Hillary).

Tinnitus, in turn, is out of stakes-placed Dors, a full sister to stakes winner Mayhego. Sired by the stakes-placed Court Martial horse Corporal II, Dors is also a full sister to Dorporal, dam of juvenile stakes winner Er Bear (by Dusty Canyon). The next dam in the tail-female line, Cathy (by Challenger II out of Flag Trick, by Pennant) is an unraced full sister to Flag of Truce, dam of the stakes-winning steeplechasers Indian Truce (by Cochise) and Fairfax (by Mr. Trouble).

Books and media

The New York Racing Association’s footage of Groovy winning the 1987 True North Handicap can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgCkVh01YkE.

Fun facts

Groovy was highly regarded enough at 2 that he made his first start in the Forever Casting Stakes, and he never raced outside of stakes company.
In his first two starts at 4, Groovy became the first horse to earn a Beyer Speed Figure of 130 or more when he posted a BSF of 131 in the Roseben Handicap, following up with a 134 in the Tom Fool Handicap.
During the lead-up to the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Groovy was protected by security guards around the clock at a cost of US$10,000 per month.
Following its acquisition of Groovy, Prestonwood Farn hired Joey Goldstein’s public relations firm to mount a campaign aimed at making Groovy the 1987 American Horse of the Year. The campaign might have succeeded had Groovy not finished second to Very Subtle in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, spoiling an unbeaten season.
Groovy retired as the richest Texas-bred Thoroughbred of all time.
When José Martin opened a restaurant, he named it “Groovys” in honor of his star horse.
As a stallion, Groovy was known as “Roo” to staff at WinStar.
Angel Cordero Jr., whose mounts had included the great Seattle Slew and the speedy Kentucky Derby winner Spend a Buck, called Groovy “the fastest horse I ever sat my a** on.”

Last updated: July 26, 2024