Odie's Fame - 3FP
Bay filly, 3, Apache's Fame -- Odessa Lobell, by No Nukes
Owners
Harold Wellwood & Dr. Norman Amos
A three-filly entry, a record three $45,000 supplements, three-year-old filly honors up for grabs…the sophomore filly pace was loaded with drama and spiced with an air of mystery. Could one of the three fillies entered by Bob Glazer's Peter Pan Stable bring him the elusive second Breeders Crown trophy he so desired? Could defending champion Juliet's Fate return to the winners circle for Brett Pelling?
Though the Illinois-bred Juxtaposition did not pass the elims and make the finals, the remaining pair of supplements, Odie's Fame and Beach Crystal brought plenty of heritage to the event. Beach Crystal's sire Beach Towel was horse of the year in 1990 and won nearly all his 3-year-olds starts with one very expensive exception -- the $1 million North America Cup. In that event, he was vanquished by the pride of Ontario, Apache's Fame, who went on the be one of the more prolific sires the province had ever known. It was a daughter of Apache Fame, Odie's Fame, who supplemented to the Crown to prove her dominance over the group though she had never ventured into the United States to do so.
Jugette winner Maudlin Hanover was missing from the final after being eliminated, but Tattersalls winner Marfa Hanover did advance. Bolero Takara, a lightning-fast daughter of Life Sign, had impressed all who saw her race in 1998, but had trouble recovering that impressive form in 1999. Her former ability flared in the elims, which she won over Panticipation and Odie's Fame in 1:53.4. French Panicure, also a daughter of Life Sign, grabbed another elim victory, with her stablemate A Votre Pante seizing the third and last elim.
The three 'Pan" fillies were naturally made the favorite. But all of Canada was rooting for Odie's Fame. The rangy filly had passed through the sale ring twice, once as a weanling for $4,400 in 1996, and then for $7,500 at the Forest City Yearling Sale. For that money she won 11 straight times and set six new track records across the province, culminating in a world record 1:52.3 as a two-year-old at Ottawa’s Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Trainer | Driver
Harold WellwoodDave Wall
For those achievements, she was named Canada’s 1998 Horse of the Year, an unprecedented event for both a filly and a two-year-old. Her owners, Harold (Buddy) Wellwood (who also trained her) and Dr. Norman Amos, a retired veterinarian, had both had long involvements in racing, but nothing had prepared them for an Odie's Fame. And finally, they had the opportunity to showcase her before the world, and gain the respect they knew she deserved.
As a three-year-old Odie's had suffered some setbacks. Her record of seven wins in 17 starts wasn't quite as shiny as the year before, but she had still earned over $400,000, the most of any in the Crown final. In August, Odie's Fame recorded the biggest win of her career when she won the $291,800 Fan Hanover Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack. Racing against a field of North America’s top sophomore pacing fillies, the daughter of Apaches Fame held all challengers at bay in the prestigious event. If she could repeat that effort, there was a chance she could command year-end honors as well.
In fact the mile was almost anticlimactic. Driver Dave Wall directed Odie's Fame to the front with ease and there she remained. No filly could get within two lengths of her as she sailed under the wire in 1:53 with a comfortable two-length lead.
Bolero Takera did her best to salvage second and French Panicure represented the entry with a third place finish. But all the glory belonged to Wall, Wellwood, Dr. Amos and the now-famous Odie.
It was Wall's first Crown win, continuing the parade of first-timers on the card. Odie's Fame became the first horse to win USHWA/USTA divisional honors without ever racing in the states, and took the HTA Nova award and O'Brien honors as well, though Canadian Horse of the Year went to Quebec-owned Triple Crown winner Blissfull Hall.
Purse $764,400
Mohawk Racetrack, Campbellville, ON - October 29, 1999
Extras
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