Ashado, Lure Top Hall of Fame Finalists

Two-time champion Ashado and four-time grade I winner Lure join two other Thoroughbreds, five jockeys, and one trainer as finalists for this year's National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame class announced Feb. 27.

The other finalists are jockeys Chris Antley, Calvin Borel, Garrett Gomez, Craig Perret, and Alex Solis; Thoroughbreds Housebuster and Invasor; and trainer Gary Jones.

The results of the voting on contemporary candidates will be announced April 26. The induction ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 9 at the Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion in Saratoga Springs. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

Short biographies of the finalists compiled by the Hall of Fame follow:

Ashado (Saint Ballado—Goulash, by Mari's Book): bred in Kentucky and owned by Starlight Stables, Paul Saylor, and Johns Martin, Ashado won 12 of her 21 career starts with purse earnings of $3,931,440. She was named champion 3-year-old filly in 2004 and champion older female in 2005. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Ashado won the Spinaway (gr. I), Schuylerville (gr. II), and Demoiselle (gr. II) stakes at 2. At 3, she won the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), Breeders' Cup Distaff Presented by NexTel (gr. I), Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II), and Cotillion Handicap (gr. II). In her final season, at age 4 in 2005, Ashado won the Go for Wand Handicap (gr. I), Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I), and the Beldame Stakes (gr. I).

Housebuster (Mt. Livermore—Big Dreams, by Great Above): Won 15 times in 22 career starts and earned $1,229,696. Housebuster was named Champion Sprinter in 1990 and 1991. Bred in Kentucky by Blanche P. Levy and owned by her son, Robert P. Levy, Housebuster won the Jerome Handicap (gr. I), King's Bishop Stakes (gr. III), Spectacular Bid Stakes, Swale Stakes (gr. III), Hutcheson Stakes (gr. III), Withers Stakes (gr. II), Lafayette Stakes (gr. III), and Derby Trial (gr. III) in 1990 at age 3 en route to an eight-for-10 campaign. A winner of eight consecutive races at one point in his career, Housebuster won the Carter  (gr. I) and Forego handicaps (gr. II), and Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) at 4 in 1991. Eleven of his 15 wins were in graded stakes races. He was trained by Hall of Famer Warren A. Croll Jr.

Invasor (Candy Stripes—Quendom, by Interprete): Bred in Argentina and won 11 of 12 career starts with earnings of $7,804,070. He was named Horse of the Year and champion older male in 2006 when he won the Pimlico Special (gr. I), Suburban Handicap (gr. I), Whitney Handicap (gr. I), and Breeders' Cup Classic -Powered by Dodge (gr. I). At age 5 in 2007, Invasor won the Donn Handicap (gr. I) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). He was trained at ages 4 and 5 by Kiaran McLaughlin. Prior to that, Invasor won the Uruguyan Triple Crown in 2005 for trainer Anibal San Martin. Following the Uruguyan Triple Crown victories, Invasor was purchased by Sheik Hamdan  to run for Shadwell Stable. Nine of his wins were in grade/group I events.

Lure (Danzig—Endear, by Alydar): Won 14 of 25 career starts with earnings of $2,515,289. Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm, Lure won back-to-back runnings of the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) in 1992-93. He won 10 graded stakes, including three grade I events. Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Lure set a track record at five furlongs and course records at one mile and 1 1/8 miles. He also won the Gotham Stakes (gr. II), Kelso Handicap (gr. III), Turf Classic (gr. III), Dixie Handicap (gr. III), Caesars International Handicap (gr. I), Elkhorn Stakes (gr. II), Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. II), and Daryl's Joy Stakes (gr. III). 

Antley won 3,480 races and had purse earnings of $92,261,894 in a career that spanned from 1983-2000. He won 127 graded stakes races and 293 overall stakes. The leading North American rider by wins in 1985 with 469, Antley was a two-time Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner, taking the Run for the Roses with Strike the Gold in 1991 and with Charismatic in 1999. He also won the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Charismatic.

Borel, as of Feb. 27, is one victory shy of 5,000 for his career and has purse earnings of $120,044,775. In a career that began in 1983, he has won 286 stakes races and is the only jockey to ever win the Kentucky Derby three times in a four-year span, accomplishing the feat with Street Sense   (2007), Mine That Bird (2009), and Super Saver   (2010). His three victories in the Run for the Roses are surpassed only by Hall of Famers Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack with five each and Hall of Famer Bill Shoemaker with four.

Gomez has won 3,713 races and has purse earnings of $200,291,954 in a career that began in 1988. He has won 308 graded stakes and 550 overall stakes. Gomez won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 2007 and 2008 and led all North American riders in earnings each year from 2006-09. Gomez won a record 76 stakes races in 2007 and has 13 Breeders' Cup wins to his credit, including the 2010 Classic (gr. I) with champion Blame  .

Perret won 4,415 races and had purse earnings of $113,837,299 in a career that spanned from 1967-2005. He was the leading apprentice jockey in earnings in 1967 and won the Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey in 1990. Perret won the Kentucky Derby with Unbridled in 1990 and the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) with Bet Twice in 1987.

Solis has won 4,938 races and has purse earnings of $230,959,903 in a career that began in 1982. He has won 319 graded stakes and 629 overall stakes. Solis has won three Breeders' Cup races, including the 2003 Classic with Pleasantly Perfect. He won the 1986 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) with Snow Chief.

Jones won 1,465 races and had purse earnings of $52,672,611 in a career that spanned from 1975-96. He won 102 graded stakes and 233 overall stakes. Jones trained 104 stakes-winning horses, including Turkoman, the 1986 champion older male. He conditioned Hall of Famer Best Pal and saddled Kostroma to a world turf record time of 1:43 4/5.

Hall of Fame voters may select as many candidates as they believe worthy of induction to the Hall of Fame. The four candidates with the highest vote totals will be elected.

The finalists were selected by the Hall of Fame's 16-member nominating committee from a total of 86 candidates suggested throughout the year by turf journalists, Thoroughbred industry participants, and racing fans. To be eligible, trainers must have been active for 25 years, and jockeys must have been active for 20 years. Thoroughbreds must have been retired for five years. All candidates must have been active within the past 25 years.

The 20- and 25-year requirements for jockeys and trainers, respectively, may be waived, but a five-year waiting period is then observed before they become eligible. Candidates not active within the past 25 years are eligible through the Historic Review Committee.