Da’ Tara (USA)
April 26, 2005 – Living
Tiznow (USA) x Torchera (USA), by Pirate’s Bounty (USA)
Family 5-i
April 26, 2005 – Living
Tiznow (USA) x Torchera (USA), by Pirate’s Bounty (USA)
Family 5-i
On an incredibly hot and humid day in New York, Big Brown was a heavy favorite to complete a sweep of the American Triple Crown in the 2008 Belmont Stakes (USA-G1). Instead, Da’ Tara scored a shocking 38-1 upset. The race was probably won in its fourth quarter, when Da’ Tara opened up a two-length lead off a quarter-mile in :25.06 after cruising through the first six furlongs in 1:12.90. Da’ Tara ran the last half-mile of the Belmont in a slow :51.69, but between a deep, cuppy track and the enervating heat, nothing behind him had the energy to catch him or even close the gap, and he drew off to win by 5¼ lengths. Da’ Tara (who had only a maiden win from seven starts going into the Belmont) never won again and was eventually sent to Venezuela for stud duty.
Race record
19 starts, 2 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$743,090
2008:
Assessments
Earned a rating of 118 pounds on the 2008 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his Belmont Stakes performance, 12 pounds below joint highweights Curlin (the 2008 American champion older male and Horse of the Year) and New Approach (the 2008 European champion 3-year-old male) and 7 pounds below the top 3-year-old male on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Big Brown.
As an individual
A well-balanced dark bay or brown horse, Da’ Tara stands 16.2 hands. When racing, he was a front runner by preference and had a long stride.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Da’ Tara has sired three winners and one stakes winner from 58 named foals as of June 3, 2022, but these records appear to be incomplete. His best runner thus far has been Switch Hitter, a Group 1 winner by Venezuelan standards.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Da’ Tara was bred by WinStar Farm. He was owned by Robert LaPenta, who bought him for US$175,000 from the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale with the intent of reselling him at a 2-year-olds in training sale. After being dissuaded by trainer Nick Zito from selling the colt as planned on the grounds that Da’ Tara was too big and backward to sell well at the targeted venue, LaPenta decided to keep the colt and race him. Da’ Tara was trained by Zito throughout his career and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Alan Garcia. The horse last raced in November 2009 but was sold as a racing or stallion prospect for US$180,000 to Foye Genetics, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland November mixed sale, with LaPenta reportedly retaining an interest in Da’ Tara at the time. The horse went back into light training following the sale but did not return to racing and was resold privately to the South American stud farm Haras Los Aguacates. After standing in Florida long enough to serve several mares intended for Haras Los Aguacates’ Argentine division, Da’ Tara was exported to Venezuela in December 2011 and began his first full season at stud at Haras Los Aguacates in the Venezuelan state of Carabobo.
Pedigree notes
Da’ Tara is outcrossed through five generations. He is the only foal of any significance produced from stakes-placed Torchera, a daughter of the good California sire Pirate’s Bounty (by Hoist the Flag) and a full sister to 1995 Vanity Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Private Persuasion. Torchera is also a full sister to restricted stakes winner Sound Wisdom (whose Grade 3-winning grandson Denis of Cork was runner-up to Da’ Tara in the Belmont Stakes) and to Wisdom Seeker, dam of listed stakes winner Seam Seeker (by Bertrando). In addition, Torchera is a half sister to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Wishful Splendor (by Smart Strike), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Juanita (by Mineshaft) and stakes winner Sirocco Strike (by Forestry).
Torchera and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner Kaylem Ho (by 1970 Futurity Stakes winner Salem), whose half sister Halo Ho (by Halo) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Tempered Halo (by Blade), Kaylem Ho is also a half sister to stakes-placed Toot Sweet (by Pirate’s Bounty), dam of Grade 2 winner Sierra Sunset (by Bertrando).
Kaylem Ho, in turn, is out of Kay Ho (by the winning Swaps horse Quid Pro Quo), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner M. A.’s Date and a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Salem Ho (by Salem). Produced from the Cohoes mare Cloud Ho, Kay Ho is also a half sister to Princess Met (by Mehmet), dam of minor stakes winner Frigidette (by It’s Freezing) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Windsor Castle, and to Leallah M. (by Big Spruce), dam of minor stakes winner Beau’s Princess (by Beau Genius). In addition, Kay Ho is a half sister to Mistical Mist (by Mehmet), second dam of 2008 Princess Rooney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mistical Plan.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Da’ Tara’s stunning upset in the 2008 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ-ouXVyziQ.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2008 Belmont Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 3, 2022
Race record
19 starts, 2 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds, US$743,090
2008:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Barbaro Stakes (USA-L, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
Assessments
Earned a rating of 118 pounds on the 2008 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his Belmont Stakes performance, 12 pounds below joint highweights Curlin (the 2008 American champion older male and Horse of the Year) and New Approach (the 2008 European champion 3-year-old male) and 7 pounds below the top 3-year-old male on dirt, American champion 3-year-old male Big Brown.
As an individual
A well-balanced dark bay or brown horse, Da’ Tara stands 16.2 hands. When racing, he was a front runner by preference and had a long stride.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Da’ Tara has sired three winners and one stakes winner from 58 named foals as of June 3, 2022, but these records appear to be incomplete. His best runner thus far has been Switch Hitter, a Group 1 winner by Venezuelan standards.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Da’ Tara was bred by WinStar Farm. He was owned by Robert LaPenta, who bought him for US$175,000 from the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale with the intent of reselling him at a 2-year-olds in training sale. After being dissuaded by trainer Nick Zito from selling the colt as planned on the grounds that Da’ Tara was too big and backward to sell well at the targeted venue, LaPenta decided to keep the colt and race him. Da’ Tara was trained by Zito throughout his career and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Alan Garcia. The horse last raced in November 2009 but was sold as a racing or stallion prospect for US$180,000 to Foye Genetics, agent, at the 2010 Keeneland November mixed sale, with LaPenta reportedly retaining an interest in Da’ Tara at the time. The horse went back into light training following the sale but did not return to racing and was resold privately to the South American stud farm Haras Los Aguacates. After standing in Florida long enough to serve several mares intended for Haras Los Aguacates’ Argentine division, Da’ Tara was exported to Venezuela in December 2011 and began his first full season at stud at Haras Los Aguacates in the Venezuelan state of Carabobo.
Pedigree notes
Da’ Tara is outcrossed through five generations. He is the only foal of any significance produced from stakes-placed Torchera, a daughter of the good California sire Pirate’s Bounty (by Hoist the Flag) and a full sister to 1995 Vanity Invitational Handicap (USA-G1) winner Private Persuasion. Torchera is also a full sister to restricted stakes winner Sound Wisdom (whose Grade 3-winning grandson Denis of Cork was runner-up to Da’ Tara in the Belmont Stakes) and to Wisdom Seeker, dam of listed stakes winner Seam Seeker (by Bertrando). In addition, Torchera is a half sister to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Wishful Splendor (by Smart Strike), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Juanita (by Mineshaft) and stakes winner Sirocco Strike (by Forestry).
Torchera and her siblings are out of multiple stakes winner Kaylem Ho (by 1970 Futurity Stakes winner Salem), whose half sister Halo Ho (by Halo) is the dam of multiple stakes winner Tempered Halo (by Blade), Kaylem Ho is also a half sister to stakes-placed Toot Sweet (by Pirate’s Bounty), dam of Grade 2 winner Sierra Sunset (by Bertrando).
Kaylem Ho, in turn, is out of Kay Ho (by the winning Swaps horse Quid Pro Quo), a full sister to juvenile stakes winner M. A.’s Date and a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Salem Ho (by Salem). Produced from the Cohoes mare Cloud Ho, Kay Ho is also a half sister to Princess Met (by Mehmet), dam of minor stakes winner Frigidette (by It’s Freezing) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Windsor Castle, and to Leallah M. (by Big Spruce), dam of minor stakes winner Beau’s Princess (by Beau Genius). In addition, Kay Ho is a half sister to Mistical Mist (by Mehmet), second dam of 2008 Princess Rooney Handicap (USA-G1) winner Mistical Plan.
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Da’ Tara’s stunning upset in the 2008 Belmont Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ-ouXVyziQ.
Fun facts
- As explained by Nick Zito, Da’ Tara’s name was derived from “Zatara,” a name appearing in the elder Alexandre Dumas’ The Count of Monte Cristo. In the book, the name (supposedly meaning “driftwood”) was given to the hero, Edmond Dantès, by the smugglers who rescued him from being a castaway after he escaped from the island fortress-prison where he had been held for six years. Zito and LaPenta settled on the similar-sounding “Da’ Tara” for the colt after being unable to get the name “Zatara” for him.
- Da’ Tara was the first male-line descendant of the great Man o’ War to win an American Triple Crown race since War Admiral’s Triple Crown sweep in 1937.
- Da’ Tara was the first Belmont Stakes winner to be imported to Venezuela.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2008 Belmont Stakes. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 3, 2022