San Fernando Breeders' Cup S. (gr. II)

PASS RUSH

SAN FERNANDO BREEDERS’ CUP STAKES (gr. II), Santa Anita Park, Jan. 11, $100,000 added (plus $100,000 Breeders’ Cup Fund), value of race $219,600, 4-year-olds, 81¼2 furlongs, 1:42.37 (track record, 1:39.18), track fast.

PASS RUSH (ch c, 116 lb) $131,760

Crown Ambassador—Profitable Knight, by Knight

B—Swifty Farms, Ind.; O—Michael B. Tabor; T—Patrick B. Byrne

Tracemark (dkb/br c, 116 lb) $43,920

Conquistador Cielo—Juta’s Fame, by Danzig

B—Russell S. Davis, Ky.; O—Edward T. McGrath

Tizbud (dkb/br c, 116 lb) $26,352

Cee’s Tizzy—Cee’s Song, by Seattle Song

B—Cecilia Straub-Rubens, Calif.; O—Cees Stable

Margins: 31/2, 1/2, neck. Others: Rushin’ to Altar 116 ($13,176), Century City 118 ($4,392), Groom On the Run 116, Mananan McLir 120, Traditional 116. Winning jockey, Corey Nakatani.

Pass Rush, who figures to be a contender for a 2002 Indiana championship, took a strong step toward a state and national championship in 2003. The son of Indiana stallion Crown Ambassador won the Jan. 11 San Fernando Breeders’ Cup Stakes (gr. II) for 4-year-olds at Santa Anita by 31/2 lengths over Tracemark. Tizbud, a full brother to Horse of the Year Tiznow, ran third as the 3-1 favorite.

As a 3-year-old, Pass Rush won the restricted Benjamin Harrison Stakes at Hoosier Park and ran second in three stakes outside Indiana. He was bred by Don and Dana Myers’ Swifty Farms, and made his first two starts for the farm before being sold privately in the summer of 2001 to current owner Michael Tabor. Pass Rush, who impressed Tabor and his connections with a 61/4-length win at Churchill Downs in his second start, missed winning the Gilded Time Stakes at Arlington Park by a neck in his first start for his new owner.

A close associate of Irish-bred Coolmore Stud, Tabor enjoyed a successful season in 2002. He is represented by 2002 Eclipse Award finalists Left Bank and High Chaparral. He raced the latter in partnership with Sue Magnier, wife of Coolmore managing partner John Magnier. In 1995, Tabor’s Thunder Gulch was champion 3-year-old male.

The Myerses acquired both Pass Rush’s sire, Crown Ambassador, and dam, Profitable Knight. They privately purchased Crown Ambassador during his 3-year-old season in 1997 with the intention of standing him at stud. He had placed in three stakes that year, two of which were graded at Gulfstream Park. Crown Ambassador never raced for his new owners, and was the first stallion to stand at Swifty near Seymour, Ind. Pass Rush is a member of his first crop.

The Myerses claimed Pass Rush’s dam, Profitable Knight, for $7,500 at Thistledown in 1996. Larry Smallwood, Swifty’s general manager, had followed Profitable Knight’s career. Profitable Knight had won a stakes and was twice stakes-placed prior to the purchase.

“I thought she had ability, but was just running bad,” Smallwood said. “We turned her over to Greg Foley, worked on her ankle, and freshened her up.”

Profitable Knight won once in four starts for Swifty. She was bred the following year and produced a Cherokee Run filly.

Profitable Knight is in foal to Crown Ambassador for this year. She will be bred back to him or to grade I winner Scorpion.

Crown Ambassador, Indiana’s leading sire by 2002 progeny earnings, is the sire of additional 2002 added-money winners Amanda’s Crown and Restitution. The former, an Indiana champion in 2001, is a Swifty homebred. Restitution is a homebred for both Swifty and Smallwood. Crown Ambassasdor’s 2003 fee is $4,000.—D.S.