After an easy victory in the 2000 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). Fusaichi Pegasus was considered a virtual lock for the American Triple Crown. Red Bullet had other ideas, however, and delivered a powerful victory over the Derby champion in the Preakness Stakes after having been previously beaten by that rival in the Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2). Not a very sound colt, Red Bullet never again touched the heights he had reached in the Preakness and proved a disappointing sire, partly due to subnormal fertility.
Race record
14 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,161,920
2000:
2001:
2002:
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2000 International Classification, 4 pounds below the topweights in that category (Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, and Tiznow) and 9 pounds below the top 3-year-old male, Sinndar (who earned his rating in the Long category).
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Red Bullet was heavy-bodied and had the crooked forelegs of his sire Unbridled. He made up for these problems with an athletic way of going and a strong, straight hind leg with well let down hocks that delivered a powerful, pendulum-like stride. According to Joe Orseno, he was “a pleasure to train” but skipped the Kentucky Derby because he was going through a growth spurt and needed a little more time. The colt missed the second half of his 3-year-old season due to a suspected cannon bone fracture and never quite came up to his previous form at 4 and 5.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Red Bullet sired 107 winners (54.3%) and 11 stakes winners (5.6%) from 197 named foals.
Notable progeny
Fatal Bullet (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Red Bullet was bred by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs operation and raced in the name of Stronach Stables. He was trained by Joe Orseno and was ridden to his Preakness victory by Jerry Bailey. He entered stud in Florida at Adena Springs South in 2003 and was moved to Adena Springs’ Kentucky operation in 2010. He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2011 due to declining fertility.
Pedigree notes
Red Bullet’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Canadian restricted stakes winner Millennium Allstar (by Meadowlake) and to Cara Bella (by Ghostzapper), dam of multiple Canadian Grade 2 winner Silent Poet (by Silent Name).
Red Bullet was produced from the Grade 2-placed Caro mare Cargo, a half sister to listed stakes winner Miss A. Bomb (by Lemon Drop Kid; dam of listed stakes winner A Little Bit Sassy, by More Than Ready) and to Actinella (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 3 winner French Riviera (by French Deputy) and second dam of Japanese Group 2 winners Suzuka Causeway and Cadenas. Cargo is also a half sister to Queen Dido (by Thunder Gulch), dam of stakes winner Suva Harbor (by Rockport Harbor).
Cargo and her siblings were produced from Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Aerturas, a French-bred daughter of 1975 French champion 2-year old male Manado and a half sister to Haboobti (by Habitat), dam of English listed stakes winner Boojum (by Mujtahid) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Brendan Brackan. Aerturas is also a half sister to Terracotta Hut (by Habitat), dam of Grade 2 winner Distinct Habit (by Distinctive Pro; dam of listed stakes winner Mr, Routine, by Mt. Livermore) and multiple German listed stakes winner Terroir (by Fairy King) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Souvenir Delondres. The next dam in Red Bullet’s tail-female line, Amiel (by 1974 French champion miler Nonoalco out of the Galivanter mare Alea), is a full sister to 1983 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Noalcoholic and a half sister to multiple French listed stakes winner Alloy (by Pharly), dam of listed stakes winner Fast Cure (by Cure the Blues) and second dam of 2006 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Leonnatus Anteas.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South on January 16, 2006.
Last updated: November 14, 2022
Race record
14 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, US$1,161,920
2000:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Gotham Stakes (USA-G3, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Dwyer Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Belmont)
2001:
- 3rd Cigar Mile Handicap (USA-G1, 8FD, Aqueduct)
2002:
- Won Foggy Road Stakes (USA, 6FD, Delaware Park)
- 3rd Skip Away Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
Assessments
Rated at 123 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2000 International Classification, 4 pounds below the topweights in that category (Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, and Tiznow) and 9 pounds below the top 3-year-old male, Sinndar (who earned his rating in the Long category).
As an individual
A chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Red Bullet was heavy-bodied and had the crooked forelegs of his sire Unbridled. He made up for these problems with an athletic way of going and a strong, straight hind leg with well let down hocks that delivered a powerful, pendulum-like stride. According to Joe Orseno, he was “a pleasure to train” but skipped the Kentucky Derby because he was going through a growth spurt and needed a little more time. The colt missed the second half of his 3-year-old season due to a suspected cannon bone fracture and never quite came up to his previous form at 4 and 5.
As a stallion
According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, Red Bullet sired 107 winners (54.3%) and 11 stakes winners (5.6%) from 197 named foals.
Notable progeny
Fatal Bullet (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Red Bullet was bred by Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs operation and raced in the name of Stronach Stables. He was trained by Joe Orseno and was ridden to his Preakness victory by Jerry Bailey. He entered stud in Florida at Adena Springs South in 2003 and was moved to Adena Springs’ Kentucky operation in 2010. He was pensioned from stud duty in October 2011 due to declining fertility.
Pedigree notes
Red Bullet’s pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to Canadian restricted stakes winner Millennium Allstar (by Meadowlake) and to Cara Bella (by Ghostzapper), dam of multiple Canadian Grade 2 winner Silent Poet (by Silent Name).
Red Bullet was produced from the Grade 2-placed Caro mare Cargo, a half sister to listed stakes winner Miss A. Bomb (by Lemon Drop Kid; dam of listed stakes winner A Little Bit Sassy, by More Than Ready) and to Actinella (by Seattle Slew), dam of Grade 3 winner French Riviera (by French Deputy) and second dam of Japanese Group 2 winners Suzuka Causeway and Cadenas. Cargo is also a half sister to Queen Dido (by Thunder Gulch), dam of stakes winner Suva Harbor (by Rockport Harbor).
Cargo and her siblings were produced from Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Aerturas, a French-bred daughter of 1975 French champion 2-year old male Manado and a half sister to Haboobti (by Habitat), dam of English listed stakes winner Boojum (by Mujtahid) and second dam of Irish Group 3 winner Brendan Brackan. Aerturas is also a half sister to Terracotta Hut (by Habitat), dam of Grade 2 winner Distinct Habit (by Distinctive Pro; dam of listed stakes winner Mr, Routine, by Mt. Livermore) and multiple German listed stakes winner Terroir (by Fairy King) and second dam of French Group 3 winner Souvenir Delondres. The next dam in Red Bullet’s tail-female line, Amiel (by 1974 French champion miler Nonoalco out of the Galivanter mare Alea), is a full sister to 1983 Sussex Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Noalcoholic and a half sister to multiple French listed stakes winner Alloy (by Pharly), dam of listed stakes winner Fast Cure (by Cure the Blues) and second dam of 2006 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Leonnatus Anteas.
Books and media
- Red Bullet is profiled in Chapter 13 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Red Bullet’s Preakness victory can be accessed through The Racing Biz’s “Preakness Memories” column of September 28, 2020 (https://www.theracingbiz.com/2020/09/28/preakness-memories-red-bullet/).
Fun facts
- Red Bullet was the first Preakness winner not to have started in the Kentucky Derby since Deputed Testamony in 1983.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Avalyn Hunter at Adena Springs South on January 16, 2006.
Last updated: November 14, 2022