Barbara Livingston

Horses make the sport go 'round....  Let's visit three (+) beloved horses on the Churchill Downs backstretch - a Kentucky Oaks filly, Kentucky Derby colt and millionaire stable pony. ON FIRE BABY (2009 gr./r. f. by Smoke Glacken - Ornate, by Gilded Time)

Here is a photo variety pack, from here and there, including some of the 2012 Derby-bound runners. Above:  Kentucky Derby hopeful ALPHA at Palm Meadows, Rob Massey up.  

Get Stormy (2006 b. h. by Stormy Atlantic - Foolish Gal, by Kiri's Clown) at Palm Meadows, March 2012.  Get Stormy was bred by Mary A. Sullivan and is raced by her Sullimar Stable.  His trainer is Tom Bush, his exercise rider Javier Cabrera and his groom is Melbi Ardiano.

Twenty five years ago today, a bay filly with a streak down her face took her first breaths near her dam.  The old broodmare was named Obeah, a Jamaican word signifying an evil spirit.  Her newborn daughter would be given a name meant to ward off such spirits. The filly did not last long on this earth - just 3 1/2 years - but, in that time, she became one of racing's greats. The day she drew her final breath - October 27, 1990, in the cold shadows of the Belmont grandstand - she became an immortal.  

Perfectly Gray inspires nicknames - like Funny Face - wherever she goes.  “Everybody falls in love with this horse,” says her trainer Bertrell Vaz, with a laugh.  “They think she’s the pony!” Why?  Because Perfectly Gray sports a prominent blood mark down the right side of her face.