2022 Eclipse Awards: Goodnight Olive

Goodnight Olive didn’t get started on her 4-year-old campaign seriously until nearly half of 2022 was over – but once she did, the filly was absolutely perfect. As a result she was named as a finalist for both champion female sprinter and older dirt female.

Bothered primarily by ankle issues at 2 and 3, Goodnight Olive finally was ready to undertake a serious campaign on June 22, when she returned from an eight-month layoff with a 5 1/2-length victory in a second-level allowance going seven furlongs at Belmont Park. The comeback gave her owners and trainer Chad Brown hope that she might finally be sound enough to fulfill her immense potential.

“There have been more bad phone calls than good ones along the way with this horse,” Brown said after Goodnight Olive capped a 4-for-4 season by winning the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland. “A couple of times she’s had to stop, although every time she’s run, she’s proven she’s there. A remarkable record, with all the stoppages and such.”

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Goodnight Olive was purchased as a yearling for $170,000 in October 2019 at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky by the First Row Partners of Steve Laymon. Team Hanley (Jay Hanley) bought into her before she incurred her only career defeat in her March 2021 debut at Gulfstream Park. The filly went on to win her next two races at 3 before needing more time off.

Once ready, she was unbeatable. Following the easy June win, Goodnight Olive captured a third-level allowance sprint on Aug. 7 at Saratoga, setting her up for her stakes debut three weeks later in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga. She won with aplomb, taking over after turning for home to prevail by 2 3/4 lengths.

“They were going a little fast, but she was going the right way,” said Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode Goodnight Olive in all four of her 2022 starts. “She was relaxed and in a good spot. I bided my time and waited.”

Off that impressive score, Goodnight Olive was the 9-5 favorite in a field of 12 in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Another terrific trip unfolded, with Ortiz guiding her home from just off the pace in a convincing 2 1/2-length victory.

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Goodnight Olive was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. She was sired by Ghostzapper and produced by Salty Strike, by Smart Strike. She finished the year with $915,450, bringing her career total to $1,019,950 on a 6-for-7 record.

After getting time off following the Breeders’ Cup, Goodnight Olive will gear back up at Payson Park in Florida for a 5-year-old campaign. Brown and the owners have expressed interest in ultimately stretching her out to longer distances, alluding to a pedigree that suggests she might well be able to handle more ground.

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