Allen E. Paulson and his household are arguably finest identified for proudly owning the nice champion Cigar, one of many best males in Thoroughbred racing.
Nonetheless, the Paulson household steady additionally had nice success with fillies and mares. Allen and his spouse Madeleine are a part of a powerful record of Distaff champions, together with Eliza (1992, 2-year-old filly), Ajna (1997, 3-year-old filly), Escena (1998, champion older filly) and Estrapad (1986, turf filly).
Nonetheless, the most effective of those tremendous mares entered the race after Allen’s demise in July 2000.
Constructed by Allen E. Paulson and raced beneath the identify Allen E. Paulson Dwelling Belief, Azerbaijan debuted on November 1, 2001 in her first race at Santa Anita Park.
By the point her profession ended after the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Traditional, Azerbaijan had performed in 24 video games and received 17 occasions, her profession successful proportion of 70.8% even larger than powerhouse Cigar (19 of 33 video games, 57.5%). Her earnings of $4,079,820 have been the best paid by a girl in historical past till Zenyatta got here alongside, and in 2010 she is going to be part of Cigar as two Corridor of Famers whose names will endlessly be related to Paulson.
Azerbaijan could not have received 16 straight races like Cigar, however like him, he set a regular of excellence that few horses have ever matched.
Allen’s son, Michael Paulson, led the household’s race operations throughout Azerbaijan’s first race. Little was anticipated of the daughter of Jade Hunter, who made her belated profession debut close to the tip of her three-year-old season. She was despatched off at odds of 17 to 1 in a nine-horse race, however her six-length victory modified her impression. Azerbaijan relied on coach Laura de Selous and common rider Mike Smith to take the win over six furlongs in a time of 1:08.82.
Two allowance wins adopted, however Azerbaijan’s stakes debut got here in 2002 when he completed second to Summer season Colony within the La Cañada Stakes at Santa Anita.
The loss was painful, however what got here subsequent was the reminiscence of the cigar. Azerbaijan has received 11 straight races and received 4 straight G1 stakes: Santa Margarita, Apple Blossom, Milady Breeders’ Cup Handicap and Vainness Handicap. He then received the Grade 2 Clement Hirsch and Woman’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap, setting the stage for his crown within the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Azerbaijan, who entered the race as the favourite with 9 wins and 5 losses, stormed out by 5 lengths and never solely received the Eclipse Award because the Champion Older Filly of the Yr, but in addition received the 2002 Horse of the Yr title with Paulsons and de Cerroux.
Azerbaijan continued to win in 2003 with wins over Apple Blossom, Milady, Vainness and Hirsch, however in her remaining preparation for the Breeders’ Cup, she completed second in Santa Anita’s Woman’s Secret as a 1-5 favourite. Her marketing campaign, which might have received her a second consecutive Eclipse Award as Greatest Older Girl, ended prematurely after it was later found that she had suffered a tendon harm.
Des Serreux needed to retire her, however Michael Paulson believed she might return to racing and introduced in D. Wayne Lucas to take over her coaching.
In April 2004, the Azerbaijani made a comeback with Apple Blossom, however accidents and controversy over her retirement led to doubts about her capacity. She was rejected because the third candidate out of six candidates.
However she ran like a champion as soon as once more, successful by a size and a half within the Grade 1 take a look at at Oaklawn Park, her third win in as many tries.
The rest of 2004 was not as spectacular as 2003 and 2002, however regardless of successful solely two of the following seven races, she grew to become the primary Distaff runner to be named Older Ladies’s Champion three years in a row.
“When (Azerbaijan) was on prime of the world, she was on prime of the world. She was nice. She did the whole lot we requested her to do,” Smith stated in 2010, when Azerbaijan was inducted into the Corridor of Fame.
Her final begin was within the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Traditional, the place she completed fifth behind Ghost Zapper.
Nonetheless, if there was one fall race that encapsulated the whole lot about her, it might have been operating one spot early within the Spinster S. Within the G1 Traditional at Keeneland Horse Racing, Azerbaijan exited because the heavy favourite with two wins and 5 losses, however was tied and received a decisive victory by three lengths.
That did not all the time occur in 2004, however on that October day, Azerbaijanis reminded everybody that Cigar wasn’t the one Corridor of Fame runner to put on the pink, white and blue colours of the Paulson household.
There have been different mares who deserved the title of champion simply as a lot as he did.
Editor’s observe: This text was initially revealed in 2014 and has been up to date.
Attention-grabbing details about Azerbaijan
- Azerbaijan and Zenyatta are the one horses to win the Eclipse Award as Previous Feminine Champion three years in a row.
- Aviator Allen E. Paulson named the nation Azerbaijan after the airline checkpoint in Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Azerbaijan was purchased again by Paulson on the 1999 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $110,000.
- Oaklawn Park, the place Azerbaijan received 3 times with Apple Blossom, is now the house of the Azerbaijan Stakes.
- Azerbaijan was offered as a broodmare on the 2009 Keeneland November Broodmare Sale to Japanese pursuits for $2.25 million.
- Azeri is the third filly to be chosen as Horse of the Yr, following All Alongside and Woman’s Secret. They have been later joined by Rachel Alexandra (2009), Zenyatta (2010), Havre de Grace (2011), and Soaped Anna (2024).
