Thoroughbred Horse

Court Vision came up with the biggest races of his life when it counted the most. Certainly, his stunning 65-1 upset win in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), defeating Goldikova (who had won the previous three BC Miles) will long be remembered. And in his previous start, Court Vision made a big impression on Canadian racing fans with a theatrical, trouble-filled win in Woodbine Mile (G1).

In all Court Vision won five Grade 1 races, earned over $3.7 million for various owners and trainers. He now is a successful stallion who began his stud career in Ontario before moving to Kentucky.

A foal of 2005, Court Vision boasts a superstar lineage as a son of Gulch, a champion sprinter, and the mare Weekend Storm, a full sister to Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall and half sister to champion and top sire A.P. Indy. Court Vision was originally a $180,000 Keeneland yearling purchase and the next year, a $350,000 2-year-old in training buy. Almost immediately, Court Vision showed that he was a big-league racehorse as he won three of his first four races as a 2-year-old for WinStar Farm and trainer Bill Mott. Those wins included the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes. Mike Iavarone’s IEAH Stables bought into the colt, and after a pair of third-place finishes in Kentucky Derby prep races, Court Vision was in the gate for the 2008 Derby but he had a rough trip and was unplaced behind his speedy stablemate, Big Brown.

It was when Court Vision was switched to the grass that the colt really blossomed. Late in his sophomore career, Court Vision parlayed a victory in the Grade 2 Jamaica Stakes on turf at Aqueduct into his first Grade 1 win – across the country in the $500,000 Hollywood Derby.

Court Vision moved to the barn of trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. in 2009 and in a brief campaign, won the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile at Keeneland before finishing fourth in his first attempt at the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), held that year at Santa Anita. As a 5-year-old, Court Vision began his campaign with a trio of runner-up placings in Grade 1 stakes races. Dutrow, sensing that Court Vision preferred to race in cooler temperatures, raced the horse sporadically that summer before he sent him north to Woodbine for the Mile, which he won with style. He completed that season with a closing fifth-place finish in a second attempt at the Breeders’ Cup Mile, once again chasing Goldikova.

While Court Vision was slow to get into his best form in 2011, he ended his career with flair in his second start for new owners Spendthrift Farm and trainer Dale Romans. His nose-victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs was one of the biggest upsets in Cup history. It was perfect timing for Spendthrift, as there were plans for the top horse to stand in Ontario at Park Stud. Court Vision has done well at stud siring several champions including Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Storm the Court, Mr. Havercamp and King and his Court, as well as dozens of stakes horses.

In Canada and the US, Court Vision made a significant impact on the track and in the breeding shed and is a deserving inductee into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.