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A Classic Performance for Forster and the Feurborns | |
8/20/2005
A Classic Life - A Classic Performance
AUBURN, WA— A Classic Life put forth a classic performance in the $100,000 Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks Saturday at Emerald Downs. It marked the third consecutive Oaks victory for trainer Grant Forster.
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 Grant Forster notched his third straight Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks victory Saturday | Forster won the race last year with Top 3-Year-Old Filly Bianconi Baby, owned by Mike and Amy Feuerborn in partnership with John and Janene Maryanski. Forster also won the 2003 edition of the Oaks with Youcan'ttakeme, the Horse of the Meet that year. Youcan'ttakeme is owned by Northwest sports magnate Herman Sarkowsky. Forster will saddle Sarkowsky's No Giveaway in tomorrow's $250,000 Longacres Mile (Gr. III). “Our objective was the Oaks,” Forster said of A Classic Life's agenda. “I was very confident, but I'm always nervous when they go to the gate.” Clad in his trademark fedora and suit, the 31-year-old Forster watched his filly run from his ‘lucky spot' on the front apron. It was there he watched the daughter of Sky Classic break out of the first post with Ricky Frazier aboard in the 1 1/8 mile test for sophomore fillies. A Classic Life laid three lengths behind the leaders America's Girl and race favorite Cee's Irish while chasing fractions of 22 2/5 seconds and 46 4/5 seconds. |
With three furlongs remaining, A Classic Life was in high gear, a neck off her leaders and poised to pounce. At the head of the straight, Frazier had urged her to the top and kept her to task, drawing clear by better than three lengths.
“She ran a dream race and did everything right,” Frazier said. “She rated really well early. They started slowing down on the backside and she came to them. She ran big and I never looked back.”
By the time the pair hit the wire, they were six lengths to the good, in front of the closing Gin's Majesty.
"They beat me last year," Frazier continued "so I thought I better jump on their bandwagon." Frazier finished second in last year's Oaks aboard Karis Makaw. He'll ride her Sunday in the $100,000 Emerald Breeders' Cup Distaff on Mile Day. Forster will saddle Summer Symphony in that event, hoping Frazier will meet with a similar second place finishing fate to him again.
A Classic Life's victory also marked the second consecutive Oaks win for owners Michael and Amy Feuerborn. It is the first time that an owner won the Oaks twice in a row and the only time a trainer (Forster) won it in three straight years.
Owners Michael and Amy Feuerborn celebrate their second consecutive Oaks win
“This horse is incredible,” Feuerborn said. “But she has really come back strong [from an injury in 2004]. It's been a long road, but she is as good as we thought she was.”
A Classic Life finished the race in 1:49 3/5 and paid $6.60, $3 and $2.60.
Gins Majesty paid $3.20 and $2.80 and Gentle Flow paid $5.80.
Race favorite Cee's Irish was fourth.
“We had a good trip,” said Cee's Irish's rider Felipe Martinez. “I thought we had enough horse to keep on going, but I guess I didn't.”
Flanked by the Forster faithful - better known as Team Forster - the front row from L-R are: rider Ricky Frazier, Asst. Trainer Blaine Wright, Michael and Amy Feurborn, WA State Attorney General Rob McKenna and wife Marylin and trainer Grant Forster
