Author Steve Rapoport, trainer Jeff Bonde and one of Metaboss’ owners Fredo Brown at Turfway Park.
Every horse owner’s dream is to win The Kentucky Derby. This is my story.
In November 2014 I attended my first Breeder’s Cup Championship weekend at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.
On the undercard, an unproven and immature 2-year-old Street Boss colt was entered in the Juvenile Turf Sprint. As the heavens inundated the turf course, the race came off the grass and my colt, Metaboss, would be trying dirt for the first time.
I was present with 20 or so partners who had purchased a miniscule interest in this smallish chestnut colt. To no one’s surprise, he disliked the off track and finished up the track (that’s another story for another day).
I wouldn’t see Metaboss race again until the 2015 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park. With Hall of Fame rider Alex Solis aboard, the Jeff Bonde trainee had won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Feb. 17, which earned him a spot in the Spiral. That Grade III win gave Metaboss 20 Road to the Kentucky Derby points and enticed 60 partners to make their way to Turfway Park.
The Hampton Inn in Florence, KY was headquarters for the “Metaboobs.”
The Hampton Inn in Florence, Kentucky was Metaboss Headquarters.
Mike Taylor of City Barbeque fame catered a meal for all the partners.
Metaboss
Post time for the Spiral took forever to arrive. As 50 or more “Metaboobs” (as we called ourselves) headed down to the paddock, our colt opened up at odds of 1/1.
Metaboss had drawn post 11 in a field of 12. The Spiral (GIII) offered a $550,000 and 50 Kentucky Derby points — a win and we would be Derby bound!
Alas, it was not to be. Metaboss disliked the surface and ran sixth.
Still, it was a great run and the experience of a lifetime!
