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| TIN CUP CHALICE |
| Hoosier Park photo |
by Steve Bailey
Tin Cup Chalice, winner of the 2008 Big Apple Triple, was euthanized on Friday morning at Finger Lakes following an accident during training.
The four-year-old Crusader Sword gelding was jogging back along the outer rail at about 6:30 a.m. EDT when he collided with Zany, a four-year-old War Chant colt owned by Joseph Besecker, coming from the opposite direction, according to Steve Martin, senior director of marketing and gaming at Finger Lakes.
Tin Cup Chalice and Zany were both euthanized. Pedro Rodriguez, the rider aboard Tin Cup Chalice, was transported to a local hospital but his injuries were not immediately known, Martin said.
The exercise rider aboard Zany was not injured, Martin said.
Bred, trained, and co-owned by Mike Lecesse, Tin Cup Chalice won eight of his ten starts over two seasons and earned $868,680.
He was most known for his victories in last year’s Mike Lee Stakes (click here for video of the Mike Lee) on June 22 at Belmont Park, the New York Derby (click here for video of the New York Derby) on July 12 at Finger Lakes, and the Albany Stakes (click here for video of the Albany) on August 20 at Saratoga Race Course, a trio of victories that earned him a $250,000 bonus from the New York State Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding program.
Tin Cup Chalice went on to win the Indiana Derby (G2) (click here for video of the Indiana Derby) on October 4 at Hoosier Park before finishing 13th of 15 in the $2.7-million Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-G1) on December 7 in his 2008 season finale.
Tin Cup Chalice is out of the Spectacular Bid mare Twice Forbidden, who also has produced stakes winner Don Corleone and highly regarded three-year-old Mr. Fantasy, who finished third behind I Want Revenge in the Gotham Stakes (G3) on March 7 at Aqueduct.
For video of Tin Cup Chalice winning the 2007 Finger Lakes Juvenile Stakes, click here.
For video of Tin Cup Chalice's runner-up finish in the 2008 Step Nicely Stakes, click here.
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