BY BROCK SHERIDAN

JULY 5, 2008—Patricia A. Generazio’s Presious Passion set the pace from the inside then held off Strike the Deal to win the $750,000 United Nations (Grade 1) at Monmouth Park. It was the first of two victories in the grassy mile-and-three-eighths United Nations for the Florida-bred gelding, who defended his title in the prestigious race in 2009.

A multiple graded stakes-winner at the time, the United Nations was also the first Grade 1 triumph for the 5-year-old Presious Passion, who also provided the first Grade 1 win for Generazio and Monmouth Park-based trainer Mary Hartmann. 

Presious Passion had previously won the 2006 Jersey Derby (Listed) at Monmouth Park, the 2007 Cliff Hanger (G3) at Meadowlands, the 2007 W. L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder and the 2008 Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park two races earlier on April 5. 

According to a report in Blood-Horse, Generazio had an offer for Presious Passion following the Pan American, but turned it down, telling Blood-Horse, “we wouldn’t even consider it.”

That year he developed a dramatic running style of sprinting to notable and extended early leads before tenaciously staying to the stretch. In the McKnight, he was in front by 12 lengths through the first eight furlongs in 1:37.82 before winning the mile-and-a-half test by a length-and-a-half at odds of 20-1 in 2:26.13, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Despite the multiple graded stakes credentials entering the 2008 United Nations, he was let go at 13-1. Although 70-1 longshot Ra Der Dean tried to pressure jockey Eddie Castro and Presious Passion throughout, staying within a length through a mile in 1:38.76 and nine furlongs in 2:02.14, the determined Presious Passion disputed a late challenge by Strike the Deal to win by neck. 

 

The United Nations victory pushed his career record at the time to eight wins, four seconds and a third in 29 starts and put him on the verge of millionaire status with earnings of $935,028. He would reach seven figures in earnings in December of 2008 with his second victory in the $150,000 W. L. McKnight (G2).

Presious Passion finished 2008 with a record that year of three wins with a second and a third in 11 starts, earning $678,490 and was named that year’s Florida-bred champion turf male by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association. The FTBOA also presented breeders Helen and Joseph Barbazon with the 2008 Needles Award, recognizing the state’s top small breeders.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo picked up the mount on Presious Passion in December of 2008, winning the W. L. McKnight and rode him through a stellar season in 2009. In addition to winning his second United Nations that year (106 Beyer), he won the Mac Diarmida (G2) at Gulfstream Park with a 101 Beyer number, the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes (Listed) at Monmouth Park (101 Beyer) and went into the $3 Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) off a two-and-a-half-length victory in the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (G1) during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, producing a 106 Beyer.

 

Despite the Hirsch victory, Presious Passion was dismissed in the Breedes’ Cup Turf as the fourth choice at odds of nearly 6-1 in the field of seven. The 4-5 favorite was Conduit (Ire) trained by Sir Michael Stoute and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf the previous year. 

Trujillo used the start on the downhill course to accentuate the natural speed of Presious Passion and sprinted to an eight-length lead before they made the unique right hand turn in the first furlong. Presious Passion continued to stretch his lead after crossing onto the main part of the Santa Anita turf, even surprising announcer Trevor Denman with his rapid pace.

“We did expect Presious Passsion to go the front early but this far this early, he’s got a loose rein,” Denman exclaimed. “And he’s got to have opened up about 12 lengths already.” 

Presious Passion slowed down some but still had more than nine lengths on Conduit in fifth through the first mile in 1:34.58. His margin began to diminish around the final turn and he was only two lengths in front of Dar Re Mi (GB) in second at the top of the stretch. He put away Dar Re Mi but then met the challenge Conduit in the final furlong. He kept a half-length on Conduit until the last sixteenth but stayed on for a courageous second, missing by a half-length as Conduit became the first horse to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf twice.

 

Presious Passion would repeat his title as the Florida-bred champion turf male in 2009 while also being named the Florida-bred Horse of the Year and Florida-bred champion older male. Helen and Joseph Barbazon were named by the FTBOA as that year’s Florida Breeders of the Year.

He would win the Mac Diarmida for the second time in 2010 but that was his last victory before retiring in June of 2012 with 14 wins, seven seconds and two thirds in 52 starts with earnings of $2,694,599.

At 22-years-old, Presious Passion continues to enjoy his retirement at the Barbazon’s Pleasant Acres Stallions in Morriston, Fla., where he remains popular among his many fans and farm tour visitors.

Return to the July 5 issue of Wire to Wire