Cyberknife
SireGun Runner
GrandsireCandy Ride (ARG)
DamAwesome Flower
DamsireFlower Alley
SexColt
Foaled14 March 2019[1]
CountryUnited States
ColorChestnut
BreederKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey
OwnerGold Square
TrainerBrad H. Cox
Record13: 5-4-1
Earnings$2,137,520[2]
Major wins
Arkansas Derby (2022)
Matt Winn Stakes (2022)
Haskell Stakes (2022)
Last updated on 28 January 2023

Cyberknife (foaled 14 March 2019) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse who has won multiple Grade I events as a three-year-old in 2022 including the Arkansas Derby and Haskell Stakes.[2]

Background

Cyberknife is a chestnut colt that was bred in Kentucky by Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey. His sire is Gun Runner, the 2017 American Horse of the Year and stands at Three Chimneys Farm and his dam is Awesome Flower who was sired by the 2005 Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley.[3]

He was bought by Joe Hardoon on behalf of Al Gold's Gold Square, for US$400,000 from the Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey's Ramsey Farm consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase. He is the fourth foal and first stakes winner for Awesome Flower.[4]

Racing career

2021: Two-year-old season

Cyberknife began his racing career on 25 September in a Maiden Special Weight event over 6 furlongs at Churchill Downs. Starting as the 6/5 favorite in a field of nine began awkwardly recovering to stalk the leader then forging ahead three wide while shifting inwards and bumping Hoist the Gold in upper stretch, then dueled while managing a narrow margin from that rival through the lane, and prevailing.[5] However, after a stewards inquiry into the incident in the stretch Cyberknife was disqualified and placed second.

On 5 November Cyberknife returned to the track at Churchill Downs in a Maiden Special Weight event over 6+1⁄2 furlongs. Starting as the short 2/5 odds-on favorite Cyberknife tracked the pace early, was in the four path into the lane, made a bid down the lane, drifted out a bit then lugged in and did not have enough in the final stages to defeat Classic Moment.[6]

A change of venue and a change of jockey for his third attempt to break his maiden Cyberknife was moved to the Fair Grounds in New Orleans where he on 26 December he broke his maiden over the 1+1⁄16 miles distance holding off Jeeper by 1⁄2 length.[7]

2022: Three-year-old season

On 22 January Cyberknife faced eight other rivals in his first run in a graded event, the Grade III Lecomte Stakes at the Fair Grounds. Cyberknife settled off of the pace four wide, inched closer in the five path and outside of rivals around the far turn to attempt a bid approaching the lane, but flattened out in upper stretch finishing sixth beaten by over 10 lengths.[8]

On 19 February Cyberknife dropped in class to an Allowance Optional Claiming event over 1+1⁄16 miles and easily dispatched his 9 foes as the 9/5 favorite winning by three lengths.[9]

In his next start on 2 April Cyberknife starting at odds of nearly 6/1 won the prestigious Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park by 2+3⁄4 lengths over Barber Road and the game filly Secret Oath securing 100 points for the Kentucky Derby thus qualifying for the event.[4] Trainer Brad Cox commented after the event, "This is a good colt. We've liked him for a long, long, time. I was a little taken back by his Lecomte but he ran very well in the allowance race. He's not polished mentally but he's getting there all the time. The more he races, the better he'll get. He's starting to put it all together."[4]

In the Kentucky Derby Cyberknife failed to fire, finishing well back in eighteenth place after being fanned eight wide into the first turn.[10] Connections regrouped after this start trying to understand what caused Cyberknife's poor run.

One month later Cyberknife was entered in the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes and starting as the 1/2 odds-on favorite prevailed by the slimmest of noses over Howling Time in an epic battle down the Churchill Downs homestretch.[10] Jockey Florent Geroux comment after the event, "He was traveling well and (Howling Time) was really game on my inside. We were battling the whole stretch. I couldn’t tell which one of us won, but I’m glad it was Cyberknife."[10]

Six weeks later Cyberknife travelled to the Jersey Shore track of Monmouth Park for the Grade I Haskell Stakes. Facing a tough field including undefeated Jack Christopher, Cyberknife was made 8/1 fourth pick in a field of eight.[11] With a patient ride by regular rider Florent Geroux, Cyberknife surged to a head victory in a track-record time of 1:46.24 for 1+1⁄8 miles over the Bob Baffert-trained Taiba with Jack Christopher (3/5on) in third place. Al Gold, whose Gold Square owns Cyberknife calls Monmouth Park his home away from home commented, "I have a lot of great memories here, and this is the best horse I've ever had. It's his second grade 1. It's a special feeling. There are no words to describe it."[3]

The Travers Stakes on 27 August attracted a very strong field, including the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby (Rich Strike, Epicenter and Zandon), Preakness winner Early Voting and Cyberknife.[12] Cyberknife started as the 9/2-second favorite, set moderate fractions for the first three-quarters of a mile. Epicenter then began his move on the outside, taking the lead at the quarter-pole. He continued to draw away down the stretch to win by 5+1⁄4 lengths with Cyberknife finishing second, with Zandon in third and Rich Strike fourth.[13]

Statistics

Date Distance Race Grade Track Odds Field Finish Winning Time Winning
(Losing)
Margin		 Jockey Ref
2021 – Two-year-old season
25 Sep 2021 6 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Churchill Downs 1.20* 9 2[lower-alpha 1] 1:09.64 1⁄2 length Martin Garcia [5]
5 Nov 2021 6+1⁄2 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Churchill Downs 0.40* 10 2 1:16.68 (1⁄2 length) Martin Garcia [6]
26 Dec 2021 1+1⁄16 miles Maiden Special Weight Fair Grounds 0.50* 9 1 1:44.90 1⁄2 length Florent Geroux [7]
2022 – Three-year-old season
22 Jan 2022 1+1⁄16 miles Lecomte Stakes III Fair Grounds 5.20 9 6 1:44.36 (10+1⁄2 lengths) Florent Geroux [8]
19 Feb 2022 1+1⁄16 miles Allowance Optional Claiming Fair Grounds 1.80* 10 1 1:42.53 3 lengths Florent Geroux [9]
2 Apr 2022 1+1⁄8 miles Arkansas Derby I Oaklawn Park 5.80 9 1 1:50.42 2+3⁄4 lengths Florent Geroux [14]
7 May 2022 1+1⁄4 miles Kentucky Derby I Churchill Downs 14.90 20 18 2:02.61 (42+3⁄4 lengths) Florent Geroux [15]
12 Jun 2022 1+1⁄16 miles Matt Winn Stakes III Churchill Downs 0.50* 7 1 1:41.98 nose Florent Geroux [16]
23 Jul 2022 1+1⁄8 miles Haskell Stakes I Monmouth Park 7.80 8 1 1:46.24[lower-alpha 2] head Florent Geroux [11]
27 Aug 2022 1+1⁄4 miles Travers Stakes I Saratoga 4.50 8 2 2:00.72 (5+1⁄4 lengths) Florent Geroux [17]
24 Sep 2022 1+1⁄8 miles Pennsylvania Derby I Parx Racing 4.10 11 3 1:48.67 (6+3⁄4 lengths) Florent Geroux [18]
5 Nov 2022 1 mile Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile I Keeneland 3.26 9 2 1:35.33 (head) Florent Geroux [19]
2023 – six-year-old season
29 Jan 2023 1+1⁄8 miles Pegasus World Cup I Gulfstream Park 2.10* 12 6 1:49.44 (9+3⁄4 lengths) Florent Geroux [20]

An (*) asterisk after the odds means Cyberknife was the post-time favorite.

  1. ↑ Cyberknife was first past the post but was disqualified for interference in the upper stretch and was placed second
  2. ↑ Cyberknife set a new track record for the 1+1⁄8 miles distance at Monmouth Park

Breeding

On 7 August 2022 that Cyberknife's breeding rights had been acquired by Spendthrift Farm. Owner Gold commented "I'm excited about teaming with Spendthrift on Cyberknife, and I look forward to watching him have a productive stallion career."[21] In 2023 Cyberknife would stand for a fee of $30,000.[22]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Cyberknife , chestnut colt, 14 March 2019[1]
Sire
Gun Runner
(2013)		 Candy Ride (ARG)
(1999)		 Ride the Rails
(1991)		 Cryptoclearance (1984)
Herbalesian (1969)
Candy Girl (ARG)
(1990		 Candy Stripes (1982)
City Girl (ARG) (1982)
Quiet Giant
(2007)		 Giant's Causeway
(1997)		 Storm Cat (1983)
Mariah's Storm (1991)
Quiet Dance
(1993)		 Quiet American (1986)
Misty Dancer (1988)
Dam
Awesome Flower
(2009)		 Flower Alley
(2002)		 Distorted Humor
(1993)		 Forty Niner (1985)
Danzig's Beauty (1987)
Princess Olivia
(1995)		 Lycius (1988)
Dance Image (IRE) (1990)
Formalities Aside
(2002)		 Awesome Again (Canada)
(1994)		 Deputy Minister (Canada) (1979)
Primal Force (1987)
Well Dressed
(1997)		 Notebook (1985)
Trithenia (1992)(family 8h)[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pedigree of Cyberknife". Equineline. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Profile of Cyberknife". Equibase. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. 1 2 Ehalt, Bob (23 July 2022). "Cyberknife Punches Home in Haskell in Record Time Son of Gun Runner turned back Taiba to claim second grade 1 victory July 23". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Ehalt, Bob (2 April 2022). "Cyberknife Prevails Over Barber Road in Arkansas Derby The filly Secret Oath was third April 2 in the key Kentucky Derby (G1) prep". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Chart for 25 September 2021, Race 7 at Churchill Downs". equibase.com. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Chart for 5 November 2021, Race 10 at Churchill Downs". equibase.com. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Chart for 26 December 2021, Race 13 at Fair Grounds". equibase.com. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Lecomte Stakes Grade 3 – (race 14)". Equibase. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Chart for 19 February 2022, Race 8 at Fair Grounds". 19 February 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 Rollins, Molly (12 June 2022). "Cyberknife Prevails Over Howling Time in Matt Winn Rebounding from a disappointing Derby finish, Cyberknife narrowly comes out on top". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  11. 1 2 "TVG.com Haskell Stakes (Grade 1 – race 12)". equibase.com. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  12. ↑ TDN, The (26 August 2022). "Runhappy Travers Tops Super Saturday at the Spa". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  13. ↑ DeBernardis, Christie (27 August 2022). "Epicenter Gives Asmussen, Rosario an Emphatic First Travers Victory". TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  14. ↑ "2022 Arkansas Derby Grade I – (race 12)". Equibase. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  15. ↑ "2022 Kentucky Derby Grade I – (race 12)". Equibase. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  16. ↑ "Matt Winn Stakes Grade III – (race 8)". Equibase. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  17. ↑ "Travers Stakes (Grade 1 – race 11)". equibase.com. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Pennsylvania Derby (Grade 1 – race 12)". equibase.com. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  19. ↑ "Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Grade 1 - (race 5)". Equibase. 5 November 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  20. ↑ "2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Baccarat Grade 1 (race 13)". www.equibase.com. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  21. ↑ "Spendthrift Acquires Breeding Rights to Cyberknife; Grade 1-winning Gun Runner colt to stand near Lexington after racing career". bloodhorse.com. Spendthrift Farm. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Jackie's Warrior, Cyberknife on Display at Spendthrift Cyberknife will return to the barn of trainer Brad Cox in mid-month". bloodhorse.com. Spendthrift Farm. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  23. ↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – Ophirdale Mare – Family 8-h". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
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