Sarava (USA)
March 2, 1999 – August 28, 2023
Wild Again (USA) x Rhythm of Life (USA), by Deputy Minister (CAN)
Family 10-c
March 2, 1999 – August 28, 2023
Wild Again (USA) x Rhythm of Life (USA), by Deputy Minister (CAN)
Family 10-c
War Emblem was a heavy favorite to complete an American Triple Crown sweep in 2002, but after he stumbled coming out of the gate, all bets were off. While War Emblem managed to put his head in front a little over midway through the race, he had expended too much energy to get there and ended up fading to eighth. The horse who picked up the pieces was Sarava, who beat Medaglia d’Oro home by half a length to become the longest-priced Belmont Stakes winner in history. Injured soon after the Belmont, Sarava never returned to that form afterward and was undistinguished as a sire, though in fairness his opportunities were mediocre.
Race record
17 starts, 3 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$773,825 (including converted English earnings)
2002:
As an individual
A well-balanced, smoothly-made dark bay or brown horse standing 15.3 hands, Sarava was close-coupled with prominent withers. A ham who would happily pose for cameras, he was fond of carrots. He was known by his caretakers at Old Friends as "a wild heart and a free spirit."
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Sarava sired 83 winners and two stakes winners from 205 named foals, headed by 2015 Panamanian champion imported 3-year-old male Torniquette and 2011 San Antonio Stakes (USA-G2) winner Gladding.
Notable progeny
Torniquette (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sarava was bred by Bill Entenmann’s Timber Bay Farm. A $250,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training from the 2001 Fasig-Tipton February sale, he was owned by Paul and Susan Roy. Following an unsuccessful juvenile campaign in England, the Roys sold half the colt for US$250,000 to Gary Drake (who raced as New Phoenix Stable) and Sarava returned to the United States, where he was trained by Burk Kessinger Jr. After the horse broke his maiden at Churchill Downs, he was transferred to Kenny McPeek. He was ridden to his Belmont Stakes victory by Edgar Prado. He later moved to the barn of Bob Baffert. He entered stud in 2004 at Cloverleaf II Farms in Florida; from there, he moved to Cloverlead’s Kentucky facility in 2007 and then back to Florida, where he stood at Martin Stables South in 2009, at Double Diamond Farm in 2010, and at Bridlewood Farm in 2011-2012. He was finally donated to the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement center near Georgetown, Kentucky, in October 2012 and died there of complications of a leg fracture in August 2023.
Pedigree notes
Sarava is inbred 3x5 to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year Nearctic. Thus far, he is the only foal of significance out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Rhythm of Life, whose half sister Wilderness Song (by Wild Again) was the Canadian champion older female of 1992 and won the 1991 Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) in the United States before becoming the second dam of 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds. Rhythm of Life is also a half sister to restricted stakes winner Sound the Fanfare (by Vice Regent), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Crucible (by Conquistador Cielo) and multiple stakes winner Quiet Cheer (by No Louder; dam of stakes winner Smart Roar, by Smart Strike), second dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Strike Softly, and third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Golden Sabre
Rhythm of Life and her siblings are out of stakes winner Nalee’s Rhythm (by the stakes-winning Gallant Man horse Nalees Man), a half sister to 1969 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Dance to Market (by Farm to Market) and stakes winners Overproof (by Prove It), Maitre de Danse (by Dancer’s Image), and Answer to Music (by Northern Answer). Produced from the stakes-winning Mister Jive mare Lady Rhythm, Nalee’s Rhythm is also a half sister to Point of Time (by Olden Times), dam of stakes winners Queen’s Era (by King’s Bishop) and Lucky Point (by What Luck)
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at the Ocala Breeders' Sales New Sire Showcase in November 2005.
Last updated: August 28, 2023
Race record
17 starts, 3 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds, US$773,825 (including converted English earnings)
2002:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Sir Barton Stakes (USA-L, 9FD, Pimlico)
As an individual
A well-balanced, smoothly-made dark bay or brown horse standing 15.3 hands, Sarava was close-coupled with prominent withers. A ham who would happily pose for cameras, he was fond of carrots. He was known by his caretakers at Old Friends as "a wild heart and a free spirit."
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Sarava sired 83 winners and two stakes winners from 205 named foals, headed by 2015 Panamanian champion imported 3-year-old male Torniquette and 2011 San Antonio Stakes (USA-G2) winner Gladding.
Notable progeny
Torniquette (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sarava was bred by Bill Entenmann’s Timber Bay Farm. A $250,000 purchase as a 2-year-old in training from the 2001 Fasig-Tipton February sale, he was owned by Paul and Susan Roy. Following an unsuccessful juvenile campaign in England, the Roys sold half the colt for US$250,000 to Gary Drake (who raced as New Phoenix Stable) and Sarava returned to the United States, where he was trained by Burk Kessinger Jr. After the horse broke his maiden at Churchill Downs, he was transferred to Kenny McPeek. He was ridden to his Belmont Stakes victory by Edgar Prado. He later moved to the barn of Bob Baffert. He entered stud in 2004 at Cloverleaf II Farms in Florida; from there, he moved to Cloverlead’s Kentucky facility in 2007 and then back to Florida, where he stood at Martin Stables South in 2009, at Double Diamond Farm in 2010, and at Bridlewood Farm in 2011-2012. He was finally donated to the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement center near Georgetown, Kentucky, in October 2012 and died there of complications of a leg fracture in August 2023.
Pedigree notes
Sarava is inbred 3x5 to 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year Nearctic. Thus far, he is the only foal of significance out of the unraced Deputy Minister mare Rhythm of Life, whose half sister Wilderness Song (by Wild Again) was the Canadian champion older female of 1992 and won the 1991 Spinster Stakes (USA-G1) in the United States before becoming the second dam of 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds. Rhythm of Life is also a half sister to restricted stakes winner Sound the Fanfare (by Vice Regent), dam of multiple listed stakes winner Crucible (by Conquistador Cielo) and multiple stakes winner Quiet Cheer (by No Louder; dam of stakes winner Smart Roar, by Smart Strike), second dam of Canadian Grade 2 winner Strike Softly, and third dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Golden Sabre
Rhythm of Life and her siblings are out of stakes winner Nalee’s Rhythm (by the stakes-winning Gallant Man horse Nalees Man), a half sister to 1969 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Dance to Market (by Farm to Market) and stakes winners Overproof (by Prove It), Maitre de Danse (by Dancer’s Image), and Answer to Music (by Northern Answer). Produced from the stakes-winning Mister Jive mare Lady Rhythm, Nalee’s Rhythm is also a half sister to Point of Time (by Olden Times), dam of stakes winners Queen’s Era (by King’s Bishop) and Lucky Point (by What Luck)
Books and media
- Sarava is profiled in Chapter 13 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Sarava’s Belmont Stakes win can be accessed through the May 5, 2016, article “Catching Up With Sarava” (Melissa Bauer-Hertzog) at America’s Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2016-catching-sarava).
Fun facts
- With a winning payoff of US$142.50 on a US$2 win ticket, Sarava displaced 1961 Belmont Stakes winner Sherluck (who had paid US$132.10 for a similar bet) as the longest-priced Belmont Stakes winner.
- “Sarava” is said to be a blessing meaning “good luck” in the Candomblé religion of Brazil (a syncretistic religion that combines Catholicism with the religion of the Yoruba people of Africa and developed after Yorubas were imported to Brazil as slaves). In other Brazilian religions, it is a mantra for “the force that moves nature.”
- Sarava was the first winner of an American Triple Crown race to make his home at Old Friends.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at the Ocala Breeders' Sales New Sire Showcase in November 2005.
Last updated: August 28, 2023