Volponi (USA)
April 13, 1998 – Living
Cryptoclearance (USA) x Prom Knight (USA), by Sir Harry Lewis (USA)
Family 16-f
April 13, 1998 – Living
Cryptoclearance (USA) x Prom Knight (USA), by Sir Harry Lewis (USA)
Family 16-f
Although he was a graded stakes winner at 2, 3, and 4, Volponi was a puzzling horse to figure out and was tried over a range of different surfaces and distances and with repeated changes in riders and equipment, with mostly frustrating results. His one great moment of glory came in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1), when he scored an upset at over 43-1 odds by 6½ lengths over Medaglia d’Oro. Following his racing career, he stood two seasons on Kentucky but was poorly patronized. He was then exported to Korea, where he has been among the leading sires and broodmare sires.
Race record
31 starts, 7 wins, 12 seconds, 5 thirds, US$3,187,232
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 14 pounds below divisional champion Macho Uno.
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2002 International Classifications, 3 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar (the European Horse of the Year) and 2 pounds below the top older runner, Marienbard, who was highweighted among older males over 11-14 furlongs in England, France, and Germany.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 10 pounds below the highweighted dirt runners, American Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Candy Ride.
As an individual
A bay horse, Volponi was described by his namesake, Paul Volponi, as having “plenty of spirit.”
As a stallion
Volponi’s best North American runner has been 2007 Natalma Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Clearly Foxy. He has been among the leading sires and broodmare sires in Korea.
Sire rankings
Per Arion (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Volponi was bred by the Johnson family’s Amherst Stable and raced for Amherst Stable and Edward Baier’s Spruce Pond Stable. He was trained by Philip G. Johnson and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic score by Jose Santos. Volponi was exported to Korea for stallion duty in late 2005 after standing two seasons at Midway Stud, Kentucky, where he had begun his stud career in 2004. As of August 12, 2022, the Korean Racing Authority no longer lists him as an active sire, but no obituary notice has been posted, suggesting that he has been pensioned.
Pedigree notes
Volponi is inbred 4x3 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and to 1970 American champion 2-year-old male Hoist the Flag, the American champion broodmare sire of 1987. He is a half brother to Grade 3-placed Fickle Friends (by Demons Begone), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Rewrite (by Editor’s Note), and to Romp and Stomp (by Olympio), dam of stakes winners Pinch Pie (by Victory Gallop) and Jonesy Boy (by Smarty Jones).
Volponi and his siblings are out of Prom Knight, who ran unplaced in her only start. She is out of the winning Danzig mare Dancing Party, a half sister to 1980 French co-champion 2-year-old male and 1981 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Recitation (by Elocutionist) and to multiple stakes winner Irish Escapade (by Icecapade). Dancing Party is also a half sister to Gaelic Logic (by Bold Reason), dam of Grade 2 winner Hidden Trick (by Trempolino) and Group 3-placed listed stakes winner Welsh Note (by Sharpen Up). In addition, she is a half sister to Wild Manilla (by Manila), dam of Brazilian listed stakes winner Handmaid (by Much Better), and to Secret Favor (by Secreto), second dam of 2003 Grande Prêmio Presidente da República (BRZ-G1) winner and 2003/04 Brazilian champion miler Autoridade Maxima.
Prom Knight, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Irish Party, by 1959 Saratoga Special winner Irish Lancer (by Royal Charger) out of the winning Tim Tam mare Party Favor. The next dam in Volponi’s tail-female line, stakes-placed Beaukiss (by Mahmoud), is also the dam of stakes-placed Kissing Belle (by Prince John), dam of stakes winner Serve Notice (by Day Court); of Debutante Kiss (by Phalanx), dam of 1969 California Oaks winner Lover’s Quarrel (by Battle Joined) and multiple stakes winner Gay Pursuit (by Vertex); and of Little Blush (by Day Court), dam of stakes winner Brash Prince (by Rash Prince) and of Cartofel (by Mercedes Won), the 1996 Horse of the Year in the Dominican Republic.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 5, 2024
Race record
31 starts, 7 wins, 12 seconds, 5 thirds, US$3,187,232
2000:
- Won Pilgrim Stakes (USA-G3, 9FT, Belmont)
2001:
- Won Pegasus Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
2002:
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Poker Handicap (USA-G3, 8FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Meadowlands Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
- 2nd Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Belmont)
- 2nd Bernard Baruch Handicap (USA-G3, 9FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 12FT, Saratoga)
2003:
- 2nd Whitney Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Brooklyn Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, The Meadowlands)
- 3rd Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Belmont)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 14 pounds below divisional champion Macho Uno.
Rated at 125 pounds on the 2002 International Classifications, 3 pounds below overall highweight Rock of Gibraltar (the European Horse of the Year) and 2 pounds below the top older runner, Marienbard, who was highweighted among older males over 11-14 furlongs in England, France, and Germany.
Rated at 117 pounds on the 2003 International Classifications, 16 pounds below overall highweight Hawk Wing and 10 pounds below the highweighted dirt runners, American Horse of the Year Mineshaft and Candy Ride.
As an individual
A bay horse, Volponi was described by his namesake, Paul Volponi, as having “plenty of spirit.”
As a stallion
Volponi’s best North American runner has been 2007 Natalma Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Clearly Foxy. He has been among the leading sires and broodmare sires in Korea.
Sire rankings
Per Arion (https://www.arion.co.nz/Home.aspx):
- 4th on the Korean general sire list in 2013; 5th in 2012; 6th in 2014; 7th in 2011; 9th in 2010 and 2015.
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2023; 2nd in 2022; 7th in 2021.
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/main.jsp):
- 5th on the Korean general sire list in 2012 amd 2013; 6th in 2014; 7th in 2011; 9th in 2010 and 2015.
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2023; 2nd in 2022; 7th in 2021
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Volponi was bred by the Johnson family’s Amherst Stable and raced for Amherst Stable and Edward Baier’s Spruce Pond Stable. He was trained by Philip G. Johnson and was ridden to his Breeders’ Cup Classic score by Jose Santos. Volponi was exported to Korea for stallion duty in late 2005 after standing two seasons at Midway Stud, Kentucky, where he had begun his stud career in 2004. As of August 12, 2022, the Korean Racing Authority no longer lists him as an active sire, but no obituary notice has been posted, suggesting that he has been pensioned.
Pedigree notes
Volponi is inbred 4x3 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and to 1970 American champion 2-year-old male Hoist the Flag, the American champion broodmare sire of 1987. He is a half brother to Grade 3-placed Fickle Friends (by Demons Begone), dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Rewrite (by Editor’s Note), and to Romp and Stomp (by Olympio), dam of stakes winners Pinch Pie (by Victory Gallop) and Jonesy Boy (by Smarty Jones).
Volponi and his siblings are out of Prom Knight, who ran unplaced in her only start. She is out of the winning Danzig mare Dancing Party, a half sister to 1980 French co-champion 2-year-old male and 1981 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas, FR-G1) winner Recitation (by Elocutionist) and to multiple stakes winner Irish Escapade (by Icecapade). Dancing Party is also a half sister to Gaelic Logic (by Bold Reason), dam of Grade 2 winner Hidden Trick (by Trempolino) and Group 3-placed listed stakes winner Welsh Note (by Sharpen Up). In addition, she is a half sister to Wild Manilla (by Manila), dam of Brazilian listed stakes winner Handmaid (by Much Better), and to Secret Favor (by Secreto), second dam of 2003 Grande Prêmio Presidente da República (BRZ-G1) winner and 2003/04 Brazilian champion miler Autoridade Maxima.
Prom Knight, in turn, is out of multiple stakes winner Irish Party, by 1959 Saratoga Special winner Irish Lancer (by Royal Charger) out of the winning Tim Tam mare Party Favor. The next dam in Volponi’s tail-female line, stakes-placed Beaukiss (by Mahmoud), is also the dam of stakes-placed Kissing Belle (by Prince John), dam of stakes winner Serve Notice (by Day Court); of Debutante Kiss (by Phalanx), dam of 1969 California Oaks winner Lover’s Quarrel (by Battle Joined) and multiple stakes winner Gay Pursuit (by Vertex); and of Little Blush (by Day Court), dam of stakes winner Brash Prince (by Rash Prince) and of Cartofel (by Mercedes Won), the 1996 Horse of the Year in the Dominican Republic.
Books and media
- The story of Volponi’s 2003 racing campaign is told in Joe McGuinniss’s The Big Horse, which was published by Simon and Schuster in 2004.
- A video of Volponi’s win in the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Classic can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRH90-dp6xE.
Fun facts
- Volponi was named for Paul Volponi, a New York-based racing journalist who had awarded Philip Johnson his 1999 “Volponi Award” for a trainer who had remarkable accomplishments while flying “under the radar.” (The first recipient was Michael Dickinson, who had earned Volponi’s notice based on his amazing comeback victory with Da Hoss in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Mile, USA-G1.) The name means “sly old fox” in Italian.
- After going through two years of treatment for prostate cancer, Philip Johnson paid US$40,000 to enter Volponi in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, making the entry on his 77th birthday. The day after the Classic, Johnson and his wife Mary Kay celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. They would both pass away two years later, three months apart.
- Volponi’s victory margin of 6½ lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Classic was the largest in the race’s history, a record later tied by American Pharoah in 2015 and broken by Flightline in 2022.
- Volponi never won again after the Breeders’ Cup Classic, though he placed in six graded stakes races in 2003 and ran second in five straight races.
Last updated: January 5, 2024