My Big Boy, a grade I winner for Heidi Doubleday, died July 30 at Doubleday’s After Hours Farm in Marshall, Va. The son of Our Hero was 29.
My Big Boy initially raced as a homebred for Doubleday’s grandmother, Mrs. Ogden Phipps, winning the 1986 Japan Racing Association Handicap at Laurel on grass in course-record time. Doubleday received My Big Boy following her grandmother’s death in November 1987.
Transferred to trainer Shug McGaughey, My Big Boy won the 1988 Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IT) at Saratoga over subsequent champion turf male Steinlen and the 1990 Pan American Handicap (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park. During his career, My Big Boy placed in 12 stakes, including consecutive runnings of the Man o’War Stakes (gr. IT), the Turf Classic (gr. IT), and the Manhattan Handicap (gr. IT). My Big Boy contested the 1988 Japan Cup (Jpn-I), finishing fourth.
My Big Boy was retired with a record of 10-12-10 from 50 starts and earnings of $1,196,102. Following his retirement, My Big Boy began a second-career as an event horse and fox hunter with Doubleday in the irons.
“I have to thank Shug for his meticulous training and preparation of My Big Boy. Without him none of this dream would have been possible,” said Doubleday. “Big Boy allowed me to meet many of the greatest people in the racing and horse world, who I now am lucky enough to call friends. He was truly a horse of a lifetime.”
A Kentucky-bred, My Big Boy was produced from the Riverman mare Pretty Special, a half sister to stakes winner Forever Command and the dam of grade I winner Lear's Princess.