Harlan's Holiday by Steph Stevens

Harlan's Holiday at Airdrie Stud © Emily Hufford 2004

Many remember Harlan’s Holiday only as the 128th Kentucky Derby favorite in 2002. Many even remember his Derby prep duals with rival Booklet, but does everyone really know his whole story?

Harlan’s Holiday never had the outstanding pedigree for the most prestigious in racing to notice him. His sire, Harlan, a fairly young stud by Storm Cat, was a grade I winning sprinter in his racing days. Despite being a sprinter, most foals sired by Harlan carry their stamina over longer distances. Christmas in Aiken, the dam of Harlan’s Holiday, provides stamina from her sire, Affirmed, the last horse to win the elusive Triple Crown. His breeding was untested, but this did not stop Starlight Stables from making the investment.

As a two-year-old, in the hands of Ken McPeek, Harlan’s Holiday broke his maiden in a stakes race at Thistledown. Throughout his two-year-old career, he won 4 of his 6 starts, including the Grade III Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Cradle Stakes at River Downs and earned over $300,000.

Harlan’s Holiday’s three-year-old career came as a surprise to the racing world. In his first appearance as a three-year-old, he placed behind Booklet, soon to become a rival he would see in many races. Later, he would come to finish just a nose behind Booklet in the Fountain of Youth and, less than a month before the Kentucky Derby, prevail over Booklet in the Bluegrass Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths. Another important Derby prep that became a basis for Harlan’s Holiday’s favoritism in the Kentucky Derby was his 3 1/2 length Florida Derby win over Blue Burner. Soon, on May 4th, 2002, he would become the favorite to win the 128th Kentucky Derby at odds of 9-2.

Though his Derby dreams did not prevail, (he finished seventh), Harlan’s Holiday did come away from his three-year-old career with a win in the Pennsylvania Derby, and a game third place showing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

As a four-year-old, he was trained by Todd Pletcher, a switch made during the end of his three year old season, and his lone stakes win came in the Grade I Donn Handicap over Hero’s Tribute. He placed a very game second in the Dubai World Cup in 2003, putting out a great effort only to lose to Moon Ballad by six lengths in the end. The only other stakes race of his four-year-old career came in the Hollywood Gold Cup, where he finished second behind Congaree.

Late in his four year old year, Harlan’s Holiday was retired and sent to Airdrie Stud. His first crop will start on the racetrack in 2005, so look forward to seeing some excellent runners by this bay stallion.