Supergill - Gone Dominant

 Malabar Man has dominated what some might consider to be a mediocre crop of sophomore trotters this year. Nonetheless, his return to top form after winning 13 of 15 races in 1996 is remarkable enough, and fitting testimony to the abilities of both his trainer, Jim Takter, and his owner-breeder-amateur driver Mal Burroughs.
 

 photo by Monica Thors


 Malabar Man has won the Hambletonian, Beacon Course Trot and American National this year, and went into the World Trotting Derby with eight straight victories and close to $1Million. After winning the first heat (1:53.1), Malabar Man finished second to Lord Stormont (1:53.). In the race-off, Lord Stormont's final panel of :25.4 was too much for Malabar Man, as he finished second in 2:00.2 (last 1/2 in :55 flat). Probably the single most remarkable observation - from a bloodlines standpoint - is that both Crowning Point (sire of Lord Stormont), and more importantly Supergill ... now make their home in Italy. Following a trend that has seen the export of such greats as Bonefish, Speedy Somolli and Joie De Vie, we have more recently witnessed the loss of Napoletano - and now Supergill.

Supergill, 2, 1:58.2; 3, 1:53.3 ($664,194) sold for a season high $500,000 in 1986, and became one of only nine top-priced yearlings to earn back the purchase price. Interestingly, Supergill's 1/2 sister Winky's Goal - a $210,000 yearling in 1991 - would repeat the trick, earning nearly $850,000 in two seasons of racing.

Out of the tremendous mare, Winky's Gill, 2, 1:57; 3, 1:55.2 ($472,154), by Bonefish, Supergill possessed phenomenal speed. As a 2-year-old, he only raced six times, winning five and finishing second in the other. Although his racing season ended on July 31, 1987, that final race was a winning effort in the $600,000 Peter Haughton, boosting his season's bankroll to $328,122. At three, Supergill raced to a summary of 16 3-7-1, and earned another $336,072. For much of the year, Supergill raced in the shadows of Armbro Goal and Firm Tribute, finishing 4-6 in the Hambletonian ... 4-2 in the World Trotting Derby ... 2-5 in the Kentucky Futurity, and finishing the season with a second place finish in the Breeders Crown. Along the way, he took his record of 1:53.3 in the Review Futurity at Springfield - a race previously won by both his mother (Winky's Gill) and his father (Super Bowl).


Supergill At Stud

Supergill's first crop included such notables as Toss Out, 2, 2:00.1; 3, 1:54.1 ($409,828), Promising Catch, 2, 1:58.1; 3, 1:57.1; 5, Q1:55.3 ($334,615) and Striking Sahbra, 2, 1:58.3; 3, 1:56 ($217,492). Both Promising Catch and Striking Sahbra are promising sires, with first crops racing in Quebec and Ohio respectively.

The second crop - racing as 2-year-olds in 1993 - included Giant Mermaid, 2, 1:59.1; 3, 1:56.3; 4, 1:54.4 ($365,039) and Call Toll Free, 2, 1:59.2; 3, 1:55.3 ($266,251). Nevertheless, in 1994, Supergill was sold to Italian interests.
Of course, as luck would have it, the Supergill legacy began to make itself evident in 1995. Promising Catch was lowering his record to 1:55.3 along with filly first-cropper Super Tammy, 5, 1:55.4. Super Vintage, 4, 1:54.4 and Giant Mermaid, 4, 1:54.4 were at the same time leading the 4-year-olds, while Super Star Ranger, 3, 1:54.3 led the sophomore colts, and RB Caesar, 2, 1:57 and Super Ben Joe, 2, 1:57.2 the freshmen.

But 1996 would be the coup de grace for Supergill. His 2-year-olds would include Gramola, 2, 1:55.2; 3, 1:54.4 ($500,000), and of course Malabar Man. And the sophomore crop would include the standout Running Sea, 2, Q2:01.2F; 3, 1:53.3 ($774,392).
Now, in 1997, we find Malabar Man heading the class of sophomore trotters, and Gramola re-discovering her winning form of last year. In the field of ten finalists for the Hambletonian, fully five were by Supergill. And his last crop of North American-bred 2-year-olds include the good fillies Meadowbranch Music and Desert Ivey.


For the past two decades, the sport has been looking for THE son of Super Bowl to carry on the Stars Pride branch of the Volomite trotting line. There have been many pretenders to the throne ... Brisco Hanover ... Final Score ... Jurgy Hanover ... Speed Bowl ... Joie De Vie ... Worthy Bowl ... Texas ... Giant Victory ... Super Pleasure. And currently, American Winner is making solid inroads toward his coronation. But, oh what a loss to North American trotting when Supergill was exported to Italy.

So now it will be left to Malabar Man to carry the Supergill cause forward. With his strong connection to Stars Pride blood (Meadow Road mare), Malabar Man will make a natural outcross choice to the Speedy Crown, and Valley Victory mares of the sport. And, since Mal Burroughs bred, owns and drives Malabar Man ... we can be reasonably assured that he will not export him overseas.


One of Supergill's sons, Toss Out, has an interesting pedigree which follows the classic pattern of blood-lines that we studied in the inaugural BLOODlines (July 1996). Supergill's third dam is Lady Jamie (by Jamie out of the great foundation mare Lady Ann Reed). Foreign Waters, the dam of Toss Out, has as her second dam Tarport Lady Ann (by Jamie out of Lady Ann Reed). Thus, Toss Out is bred 3 x 3 to Bonefish ... but is also 4 x 3 to the full sisters Lady Jamie and Tarport Lady Ann.

So what, you say? Who the heck was Toss Out? Toss Out had the distinct misfortune to be born in the same year as two of the greatest trotters ever - Pine Chip and American Winner. He was never able to beat those two (nobody could), but still managed to finish second in the Hambletonian Elimination (fourth in the Final), and second in the final of the World Trotting Derby.

In all, Toss Out managed to win $343,000 (of his $409,828) while pitted against American Winner and Pine Chip. Keep watching for the maternal links - they can truly strengthen a pedigree ... and the animal that carries it.

Ralph

July 96 Bloodlines

August 96 Bloodlines

September 96 Bloodlines

 October 96 Bloodlines

 November 96 Bloodlines

 January 97 Bloodlines

 February 97 Bloodlines

 March 97 Bloodlines

 April 97 Bloodlines

May 97 Bloodlines 

 June 97 Bloodlines

 July 97 Bloodlines

 August 97 Bloodlines
 

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